The Prospector 05 02 2023

Parting words from the President

We’re days away from commencement – one of the most important days in your life. Many of you who will cross the stage started at UTEP the same time I did. There are moments when it seems like a long time ago, and others when I’m amazed at how fast the last four years have gone. There are about 3,000 graduates who will cross the stage in a few weeks. Two things are likely true for all of you.

First, you are not the same person you were before you started here. You’ve learned new skills, developed a deeper awareness of yourself and the world, and stepped up to confront unprecedented challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic. Ideally, you have become a better version of yourself.

Second, none of you got here alone. It may have been parents and grandparents, spouses and friends, mentors and teachers who helped you when you needed it. The appropriate response to that help is gratitude. Simple gratitude. Amid the hubbub of finals, graduation photos, and celebrations, I hope you take a moment to thank those who helped you on your journey. No matter what, you will always be a UTEP Miner. We want you to stay in touch with us and with each other as you start a new chapter of your life. There are many ways to stay involved as an alumnus and a community member, and remember this: you will always have a home here at UTEP. Congratulations to each of you and to your families.

Dr. Heather Wilson President

A goodbye I wish I did not have to say yet

I started writing this at the beginning of the semester just because I wanted to look back at how I felt and compare it to how I feel now.

Starting Jan. 6, I am sitting in my room trying to take it all in, the semester only a few days away from beginning a workload ahead of me, but I am nowhere near ready to leave college. I have so much waiting for me this semester that I am afraid if I do not appreciate it enough or take the time to realize where I am standing and learning. I have come a long way, from waking up at 4:30 a.m. during my freshman year so I could walk the border and be on time for my 9 a.m. class, to feeling the rattling beat of my heart

due to the financial stress I had these four and a half years. Despite all the tears, sweat and late nights, I would not change a thing. I am extremely happy with the choices I made that led me to this moment, I cannot picture my college experience any differently, because in reality, I did not have any expectations, I let life surprise me.

I would have never imagined that I would end up being part of my university’s newspaper, let alone the editor-in-chief of the magazine. I was always full of self-doubts, that I thought I would finish college and feel like I did not accomplish anything in life. Now, a lot of people might think that being part of student media is not that big of a deal, but you have no idea how fulfilling this experience was. Not only does

it give you work experience, but it gives you so many great friendships that you will treasure forever. They always say how the friends in college are the ones you keep forever and I thought they were lying, until I met my shawties.

Itzel, Anahy, Emily, Vicky, Victoria, Hugo and Annabella, thank you so much for being such good friends and impacting my life in ways you cannot even imagine. I will treasure every moment together, every gossip, laughter and tears. Please know that I will always root for you and your dreams. Meagan, Fatima, Katrina, Emmanuel, Marco, thank you for being not only coworkers but friends, I wish I would have met you sooner, I truly enjoyed losing our marbles together on production days. Also,

huge thank you to every single one of you guys who went out of their way to give me a ride so I would not walk in the dark. You have no idea how much that means to me. Thank you so much. Erik, Avery,

Angelica, Catching, Eugenio, Jasmin, Nico, Eli, Joel, Jose, Gianluca, SalmaPaola, I know you will continue to do an amazing job and make The Prospector something students look up to.

Tracy, I hope you are reading this issue. I am also so grateful for having met you, you left an impact and helped me so much to grow as a writer and professional, I will always be thankful for that.

Shout out to our former Editor-in -Chief, Julian Herrera, who hired me for my “vibes” almost two years ago, I would not be here if he did not see my potential, thank you.

Vero, I will never stop thanking you for literally everything. Not only did you give me a job, but you gave me the opportunity to meet

see MARIA on page 3

A bittersweet goodbye, but an exciting hello

BY KATRINA VILLARREAL The Prospector

I have been putting off writing this because it is hard to say goodbye to a place that gave you so many amazing memories and friends, but part of the journey is the end.

Throughout my college career I have been (almost) everywhere, from San Antonio to Oklahoma, but I am happy to say I was able to find a place to call home.

Deciding to come back home to attend UTEP was honestly the best decision I have ever made. I remember trying to find opportunities to jump start my journalism career and when I found The Prospector, I was excited but nervous because I have never written in AP style. The submissions I sent were all from a technical writing class I took in San Antonio, so I have to thank former Editor-in-Chief of The Prospector, Anahy Diaz, for seeing something in me and giving me a chance.

The Prospector was the first place to give me my start in writing and helped me realize writing recaps and profiles for the sports section was something I enjoyed. Tracy if you are reading this (which I hope you are) thank you so much for encouraging me to keep improving

and keep going; I miss you and I hope you are doing well. Now I am the multimedia editor and I never would have thought that I would be making videos and running the podcast. Not only have I had the opportunity to become a better writer, but I have been able to meet some amazing people along the way.

Itzel, it has been an honor working for you. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be an editor and for trusting me to run the podcast, I appreciate you. Also thank you for the all the fangirl moments over Taylor Swift and Harry Styles.

Fatima and Annabella, you two are the sweetest people I have ever met. Thank you both for encouraging me to stay strong through the tough times; we need to go shopping together, I need your style expertise. Maria and Meagan, my book besties, thank you for the endless memories and talking books with me. It has been an honor doing the book talk segment with you all.

Jacob, Marco, Erik, Nico, Eli, Avery, SalmaPaola, Joel, Angelica, Catching, Eugenio, Jasmin (my fellow graduate) and Gianluca some of you I have known for a semester or two and some of you I have just met this year, you all are literally the best, I will miss you all so much. I

VOL. 108, No. 16

am so glad to have met every single one of you, thank you for your friendship and for always being there for me.

Vero, Isa, Amy and Crystal (my Formula 1 bestie) thank you for believing in all of us at The Prospector, the office would not be the same without you all. Thank you for all the endless support you have given not only me but the rest of The Prospector staff. I now have amazing people I have the honor of calling mentors. I will miss you all, thank you for everything.

Emmanuel and Alyson there is so much I want to say. You both have been one of the greatest support systems out there, I wish I would

have met you all sooner, but better late than never. You have been there for me through thick and thin and I know I can always count on you both. You both have helped me put myself out there by pushing me to my greatest abilities. Thank you both so much for believing in me when I did not believe in myself. Thank you both for pushing me out of my comfort zone, but most of all thank you for being my best friends, I could not have asked for anyone better. The revolution, it has been fun and thank you for welcoming me with open arms, I know you all will go on to do remarkable things.

To my wonderful family, thank you for the endless support and always cheering me on. Mom and dad this is for you, I hope and plan to continue to make you the proudest parents on earth. I do not know where I would be without you.

Thank you for supporting me every time I wanted to transfer to another college and thank you for helping me achieve my dreams; everything that I am is because of the both of you.

To my brother, thank you for introducing me to football and teaching me about the game; I will forever cherish the moments when we sat in mom and dad’s room to

watch football. Sister, we did it. I am so glad that we are graduating together; I would not have wanted to go through this journey with anyone else but you. You have been my rock through it all and I am so glad that God blessed me with an amazing sister like you. I am so proud of you, and I know you will continue to do tremendous things in life. Baylor has one amazing student and athletic trainer on the way. To anyone reading this, college is stressful, but it is full of beautiful memories, cherish every single moment. As one of my favorite Formula 1 drivers, Daniel Ricciardo says, “Enjoy the butterflies, enjoy the nerves, the pressure. There’s a lot of worldly people in this place who you can laugh with, learn from, enjoy some moments with. So, embrace the good ones. Stay focused.”

To the class of 2023, congratulations. Let us keep working towards our goals and never give up. Lastly to UTEP, thank you for the memories and opportunities. I am grateful for it all, it has truly been a wonderful journey and now I am ready for the next chapter.

Goodbye UTEP...Hello Arizona.

Katrina Villarreal is the multimedia editor and may notbe reached at kvillarreal1@miners.utep.edu

…and submit a letter for publication. Please include your full name, street address, telephone number and e-mail address, as well as your student major, classification and/or titile if applicable. Write to us at 105 E. Union, 500 W. University Ave. El Paso, TX 79968; email us at prospector@utep.edu, or call us to 747-5161.

Personal information (phone numbers and address) will be used for identification only. Letters are subject to editing to fit available space, clarity and brevity.

amazing people. You continue to be a great mentor and someone I can rely on and trust. I will miss our long talks about life and I hope you miss them too; I also hope I do not disappoint you with any future love decision making.

Isa, my only daughter friend, thank you for all the conversations that we had, and for allowing me to find someone I can see myself in. I will always cherish the laughs that we shared and the tears I shed at your office table. You are one of the best people I have ever met, and I will always remember you. Thank you for being such an amazing supporter and coffee companion.

Amy, thank you so much for dealing with us, I know we can be quite a handful, but we appreciate everything you do for us. From standing in the cold handing out paper, to gossiping with us. Thank you for always greeting me with a smile whenever I come into the office, may the world always smile back at you.

Crystal, I know we had only a few months to know each other but I would like to thank you for taking the lead role we needed when we felt lost. I know the publication will continue to grow with you guiding us. Thank you for comforting me at my lowest and for all the help you have provided outside of work. I truly appreciate you.

I would like to thank my parents for their patience with me, I know I was not easy to deal with these past four almost five years, yet you were always my number one supporters.

Mamá y papá, espero lo que hago los llene de orgullo y que algún día pueda pagarles todo lo que han hecho por mí. Nunca podré terminar de agradecerles por todo el amor que me dan y por brindarme la oportunidad de trabajar por mis sueños, espero y algún día logremos todo lo que nos propusimos juntos. Todo lo que soy es gracias a ustedes.

Now, finalizing this before publication for May 2, I cannot believe I am a few days away from walking the stage and receiving my degree. It is still a very surreal feeling that I wish I was more prepared for. The uncertainty of the future is scary, but I can at least rest assured my time at UTEP was something I enjoyed and loved.

I believe joining student media was the best decision I have ever made, and it was one that made UTEP better. I will be forever grateful to the people I met and for the opportunities provided by the department. I would also like to congratulate everyone graduating this semester; I am proud of all of you and wish you the best in life.

I strongly encourage everyone to read the paper and the magazine, you guys have no idea how much love and dedication goes into the creation of each issue.

I am sure by reading studentled publications you will see the borderland and UTEP community differently and fall in love with it just like I did.

A new journey awaits me

My time at UTEP has been a rollercoaster of a journey. I remember coming in during COVID and feeling lost and unsure of what I wanted to do. But I knew it would all fit together if I was doing what I was passionate about. I remember applying for a position for The Prospector and Minero Magazine. Doing this opened so many opportunities for me and truly enlightened my skills as a photographer and a writer. I also remember joining the UTEP marching band and flute choir. Band will forever be a large part of my life and I am so grateful for the doors that have opened for me because of music.

Cut to three years later and I could not be happier of how much I have grown as a person, musician, business owner, student and photographer.

This all would not have been possible without the support of my friends and family, but I especially cannot thank my dad enough. He has always pushed me to be the best version of what I can be and has never hesitated to help me despite the craziness I may ask from him. He is truly my biggest inspiration creatively and I am so grateful he has never given up on me or my dreams. I also cannot thank Joseph

Salgado enough. Thank you for always having my back and truly supporting my passions. You have never doubted me and have always been there despite what path I choose next.

I also could not be more thankful to work with such amazing and passionate people. The entire Prospector and Minero staff have helped me become who I am today and I am so glad to have always been able to work with such great staff and supervisors. So much so, that this led to my promotion as photo editor for the magazine and it has been an incredible journey since. Vero, Crystal, Isa, and Amy thank you for creating such an amazing environment I call my second home and pushing us all to be the best versions of ourselves. I am also incredibly grateful for

the entire flute and piccolo section for helping me create unforgettable college memories. And to Mrs. Barbara Lambrecht for always believing in me as a musician and always pushing me despite the obstacles I faced throughout my year at UTEP.

To all the professors who have taught me throughout college, thank you for guiding me and furthering my knowledge in so many subjects. I have learned so much and have become a better creative student because of you.

It is crazy to think that I am graduating at only 20 years old and I would not have it any other way. Just in three years I have learned so much and have become a whole new person. I am overwhelmed by the support and experiences I have gained and could not feel more prepared to take on this new step in life. But being a senior, all you ever hear is, “Well, what do you plan on doing after graduation?” Despite my preparation, I have never been so unsure of what my answer is, but I know no matter what, I am going to figure it out and I have learned that sometimes it is okay to not know. The future has a mind of its own and I know that with my experiences throughout my college years I am ready for this new journey no matter the obstacles.

Jasmin Campoya is a staff photographer and cannot be reached at jncampoya@miners.utep.edu

Maria L. Guerrero Duran was the web and copy editor and may not be reached at mlguerrerod@miners.utep.edu, nor @bymariaguerrero on Instagram.

First-generation student, soon to be graduate

“Nervous, excited and ready” are some words Myra Villarreal used to describe her upcoming graduation from UTEP. After beginning her college journey in the fall of 2020, Villareal did not always think of UTEP as a first choice. What followed was a cycle of uncertainty while pursuing her dreams. Today, she is now graduating not only as a woman in STEM, but a first-generation graduate.

Despite having struggled in school for most of her life, Villarreal started looking toward the future. It was there she started to think of the possibilities a college education could offer. Following her high school graduation, she decided to start a new journey where she could determine how far she could go. “I struggled in school basically my whole life, starting from like third grade on. When I was in high school I was in this program called AVID, so we had to take AP courses and I struggled so much,” Villarreal said. “After I graduated high school, I was like, ‘Why stop here?’ I worked so hard to get here, might as well just push myself and see how far I can go.”

Villarreal first began her college education at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). Wanting to leave El Paso after her high school graduation, she decided to “dive head first” into an out-of-town experience.

“I really didn’t know what I wanted to do first. I kind of wanted to do personal training because I liked working with people,” Villarreal said. “I started doing more research and (decided that) didn’t want to deal with the business aspect of it, so I tried looking for physical therapy (PT) or occupational therapy (OT).

So, I had to lean more towards PT, but I really wasn‘t doing anything at UTSA to help me get my foot in the door. I guess the pandemic really kind of pushed me (back) because when (I was) in San Antonio, I didn‘t feel like I

was at home. I just kind of felt like an outsider. So I had to come back home. It just felt right, and I’m so happy, I’ve done so much in El Paso over the years.”

Upon returning back home, Villarreal decided to study kinesiology at UTEP, with a concentration in human fitness performance. Being interested in working with people for years, Villarreal decided to pursue a career that would require working with others. Apart from her status as a people person, she also enjoys learning about the human body, as it amazes her “how we can do certain things.”

The stress of paying loans after graduating college

tion because they do not receive financial assistance. The money piles on every time a student takes out a loan.

Walking across the stage with your diploma in hand and family congratulating you is a highlight in life for so many, yet it does not take away the debt many of these students need to pay back after graduating. During their time in college, many students of UTEP do not receive enough grants or any money from financial aid, leading to them taking out loans. With the stress of finding a job after graduation and being able to pay back this debt creates a heavy weight on UTEP students.

UTEP’s financial aid office assists incoming underclassmen and upperclassmen with their financial aid. Graduating seniors are required to fill out the Federal Exit Counseling, create a personal budget, and choose a repayment plan. Through this, students are meant to follow through with this process.

“For 2022-2023, 34 percent of all undergraduates enrolled in either fall or spring and who applied for financial aid,” UTEP Financial Aid said.

This rate may seem low to many; however, this is low because of how many students choose not to fill out the financial aid applica-

Freshman Alex Valles who is majoring in nursing, is one of the many underclassmen who take out loans to pay towards their own higher education.

“Hopefully by the time I graduate, I’ll have a job within the major I’m currently studying in order to pay back the loans that I had to take out this semester as well as last,” Valles said. “I am kind of iff y though, if I’ll be able to pay it back, because it’s just a lot of money, and I know I don’t have to pay it yet, but it’s still a constant stressor that’s on my mind quite often.”

Students are expected to pay back their loans within 10 years but are given a six-month grace period to figure out how to receive or find the funds they need to pay back like looking for a job. If students do n’t meet these deadlines, they must call the loan servicer to protect their credit score.

“I know later on in the future I’m going to have a lot more expenses that I’m going to need to pay, and school being one of them is insanely stressful even now,” Valles said.

The recent graduates are not only

bombarded with the pressure of finding a job but also having to scavenge for money to pay back the loans that burden them. Though the span of time provided, it gives students leeway, as the thousands of dollars taken out takes time to save up.

However, the span of time may not be enough for these students to pay back due to other priorities they have to tend to.

Depending on if the student finds a job and can save up that money, provide for their housing, food, and other human responsibilities, loans are just another burden added to these students.

Graduating is a main focus for UTEP seniors. They should be able to enjoy their time trying to find a career in their proper field and situate their life rather than stressing over their large amounts of debt or risks of not being able to meet those payments.

For more information contact the UTEP financial aid office at studentfinancialaid@utep.edu or at (915) 747-5204.

Avery Escamilla-Wendell is the staff reporter and may be reached at amescamilla@minets.utep.edu or on Instagram @by_avery_escamilla.

“It’s an honor. I just feel like it‘s a really big deal because I feel like I’m not only doing this for myself, but I’m also doing it for my family because they work so hard to help me stay in school,” Villarreal said. “I‘m doing something right, like I’m doing something with my life and I’m making them proud.”

Despite graduating this semester, Villarreal’s educational goals are not over yet, as she was accepted into the Masters of Athletic Training Program of Baylor University.

Moving out in June, she has begun to prepare for continuing her journey and following her dream of working for professional athletes. Along her undergraduate journey, Villarreal has been supported by her parents and sister, who is graduating alongside her as a first-gen undergraduate this semester.

After studying at UTEP, she was able to get an internship that would help her work up close with injured athletes in the rehabilitation process.

“It was there (that) I usually treat athletes and do rehab with them. If they came in with an injury like a post-operation, we could do rehab on them, and then we’d do treatments before practice,” Villarreal said.

Completing her education at UTEP and gaining experience through her internship, Villarreal feels ready to move on, especially as a first-gen graduate.

While this time proves to pack a busy schedule for her, Villarreal stays hopeful for her future.

“I‘m just so proud, proud and shocked. I was able not only able to prove to myself that this is my full potential, but I was able to do it on my own, I mean, with the help of my sister. I‘ve been with my family for years, so I think (living away) is gonna take time, obviously, just because I‘m so close to my family,” Villareal said. “I feel like I‘m mentally and emotionally ready to be on my own and to kind of take care of myself.”

can be reached at egnunez2@miners.utep.edu

Don Haskins event honors late basketball legend Willie Cager Jr.

On March 19, UTEP’s basketball legend William (Willie) Cager Jr. died at the age of 81. March 19 was also the 57th anniversary of the 1966 NCAA men’s college basketball championship. Nicknamed “Scoops” for his swiftness in handling the ball on the court, Cager was born in The Bronx, New York, Aug. 24, 1942. Cager played basketball at the college level at what was then named Texas Western College (TWC).

Cager played in 77 games for TWC, before it’s name change to UTEP, from 1964 to 1968, where he averaged 5.3 rebounds and 8.5 points. Where in an infamous game between Texas-Western and Kentucky, where TWC became the first team with an all-Black starting line-up to win the NCAA Championship. Damaine Radcliff portrayed Cager in the 2006 film “Glory Road” based on that same championship.

On Friday April 14, UTEP hosted a celebratory event at the Don Haskins Center, open and free to the El Paso community. The event

honored Cager not only as the amazing basketball player that he was, but also as the amazing person, father, son, teammate, and friend that he was to so many people in his life. The event included his family, previous teammates, friends and admirers alike. Many shared heartfelt stories and lessons Cager had displayed in his storied life. Among the attendees was Kareem Cager, one of Cager’s sons.

“Our father, he was our superhero, you know he had been through a lot of adversity since he was born,” Kareem said. “And the things that we witnessed and watched him overcome through the years were a blessing to our family and just what he did toward the community.”

Kareem spoke on how important it was for his father to be positive and supportive to others, on and off the court. Cager always carried a smile wherever he went, even toward the end of his life and where he was physically, it was important for him to show the value of strength to his community. Kareem spoke about the way his father approached a room, being able to engage so gracefully with others.

“Him having five sisters, that

see CAGER on page 7

Elisha Nuñez is a staff reporter and

Myra Villarreal plans to continue her education at Baylor University in their master of athletic training program. Photo by Gianluca Cuevas/The Prospector

Food scarcity: UTEP’s latest obstacle

BY VICTORIA CASTILLO The Prospector

Student council members presented to the administrative guest a call to action regarding food security and housing, April 21. Which sparked a discussion of what more can be done to assist students toward their academic success.

During this conversation food scarcity was the main topic of what can prevent a student from growing while working towards a higher education. Although food is a basic human necessity, some students have been faced with the harsh reality of seeing it as a luxury item.

46 percent of students stated they ate less despite feeling like they should not, and 38.2 percent of students skipped meals because of the lack of money for food in 2022, according to the Hunt Institute survey.

Lisette Gonzalez, a member of student council and attendee of the UTEP Food and Housing Security presentation, conducted a series of interviews with students regarding their budget for food weekly. Most students had a budget ranging from $25-$35 a week.

One student Gonzalez had interviewed disclosed “Because my class is early; I will get a coffee at the food bank and skip straight to dinner. If I can make a big enough din-

ner, I do not have to eat breakfast.”

Although the numbers are high for those who must see food as a luxury rather than a necessity many students are unaware of the assistant programs UTEP has on campus. One program would be the Food Pantry, which is a reliable source for UTEP students to collect food or snacks for free.

If there is a food pantry dedicated to feeding students who need assistance, why are the numbers so

high? This could be because many students are unaware UTEP has a food pantry, the location is also not convenient andthe stigmas regarding asking for help prevent them from doing so. Some students may feel shame or that they are taking from someone who is in more need than themselves. Such as Samantha Medina, a current junior at UTEP, who has not visited the food pantry due to this reason.

“I just wouldn’t want to take away

from those who need it and benefit from it,” Medina said. Another way students could be more aware of the food pantry is through word-of-mouth marketing.

“I heard about the food pantry in my communication leadership class. One of our projects was researching non-profit organizations in El Paso, my professor suggested UTEP’S food pantry,” said Savannah Dixon, a UTEP senior. “I have been here four years, and I just found out

about the pantry last semester.”

The word is being shared about the programs UTEP has for students in need, it is just a matter of getting the information further out to those who need it.

Initiatives like changing the food pantries name to a more welcoming one or moving locations such as going to the union or outside the Undergraduate Learning Center (UGLC) building were brought up as well.

“I saw a box with snacks, mugs, and other things by cotton memorial that was labeled grab what you need! I felt more welcome to take what I needed; I feel like for the food pantry if it were labeled something like that I would likely stop by also if it were closer to campus” said Pablo Andre Bojorjes, a UTEP senior.

With the wave of graduating students and incoming freshmen incentives to make the food pantry more accessible, are being discussed. If you or you know someone who has found themselves in need of food check out the food pantry. The food pantry is located at UTEP Memorial Gym Room 105, 101 West Robinson Ave. Donations to the pantry are also welcomed. Students can also find affordable meal plans with Pick ‘N’ Shovel located at the Don Haskins.

Victoria Castillo is a contributor and may be reached at vdcastillo2@miners.utep.edu

The UTEP Food Pantry was established in 2014 and provides food security to staff and undergraduate/graduate students who are enrolled in the fall and spring semesters. Photo by Joel Molina /The Prospector

Story of a man and his bestfriends

The saying “a man’s best friend” has been interpreted in many ways but possibly most noted by its meaning of a dog‘s loyalty to their owner. For upcoming UTEP graduate Daniel ‘Dan’ Shiprack, the saying is more than just a loyal dog but rather two dogs who changed his life for the better.

Buddha and Daisy Mae are Shiprack’s service dogs, which are not only certified for PTSD but also detect seizures and diabetic concerns. Both with their own unique capabilities, Buddha helps keep Shiprack safe from PTSD triggers while Daisy is geared toward his resocialization into society.

“I was in the Army for 26 and a half years; 11 combat tours and my last tour was from here at Fort Bliss (and) got back in 2014,” Shiprack

said. “I was diagnosed with severe PTSD, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideologies (and) I was medically retired. Just before I left, my wife and my sister-in-law got Buddha for me.”

Buddha was the first to come home at only nine weeks old and as a surprise to Shiprack created an unknown connection and a lifelong bond. Through that unbreakable bond, Buddha has been at Shiprack’s side during every class as he works to receive his Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling this spring. However because of Buddha’s perfect attendance, he will also be walking the stage to receive his honorary degree. According to the UTEP website, the Master of Rehabilitation Counseling is a program which “prepares students with the specialized knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to collaborate in a profes-

sional relationship with people who have chronic illnesses.” To Shiprack receiving this degree is more than just assisting those who need help but rather a way to show others how you can overcome struggles and succeed in life.

“I have been in their shoes; being discriminated against.” Shiprack said. “It’s a social stereotype, ‘oh you have a disability’ and they don’t want to talk to you. Society in general doesn’t want to talk about disabilities.”

Although Daisy won’t be graduating with a degree quite yet, she and Buddha have helped not just Dan but many at Shiprack’s internship in the Las Cruces School District, where they help students from the ages of 18-21 who have physical or mental disabilities come into their own personality or other clients from other locations with other disabilities.

All three of them play a vital role in helping these clients emerge from their shell just like Shiprack needed at one point.

“(Daisy) works really well with the kids, she has got five or six of the kids out of their shells,” Shiprack said. “She actually helped one of our full-spectrum autism clients and helped calm him down.”

While Daisy works with the younger clients, Buddha is always ready to put the older ‘kids’ in their place according to Shiprack.

“We have two young adult clients that we’re working with right now that are in wheelchairs. I see when they’re in public working; how other people perceive them, they ignore them because they’re in a wheelchair.” Shiprack said. “There is one student who loves to work with the dogs, even though he is in a wheelchair and we have to be very careful, the dogs understand.

Buddha meets him every morning at the bus, when the bus pulls into the parking lot.”

Aside from their story alone, it is seen how the trio have helped so many come out of their shell either as a client or as a fellow student on around campus.

All three have bigger goals than their own, making them so welcoming and easy to talk to. Luckily for everyone on campus, both Buddha and Daisy Mae are only a few service dogs who people are allowed to interact with as they are also certified therapy dogs.

“Daisy and Buddha are both certified therapy dogs, so when I have my mental health clients with me, they come with me,” Shiprack said. “I tailor sessions to the client. I get to know them and I decide which dog to bring to the next session with me.”

In all, walking across the stage is something that is no easy feat for anyone, for Shiprack it’s something that at times seemed impossible or no longer attainable but thanks to his father and big support system, he now gets to walk the stage later this month.

“Believe in yourself even when it gets tough.” Shiprack said. “It was scary for me in the beginning, mentally I was burnt out a few times with bad grades and bad days (which) made me want to quit but my professors or advisors would tell me ‘No, it’s just a bad day.’

Luckily for Shiprack, while along his journey, he has had either Buddha, Daisy Mae or both to help him overcome the difficulties of being burnt out or having a bad day.

“(Buddha and Daisy) will let me know I’m having a bad day,” Shiprack said. “I stop, take a breath and look around and I imagine myself tomorrow, a better person.”

Just like many it is not always about the destination but rather the journey and for Shiprack the journey has had much to offer and much to learn.

“(This journey) is more for me and my dad but deep down I know it’s not just for me and my dad,” Shiprack said. “If I can help someone every day to be better or be here tomorrow, then I have done my job.”

Itzel Giron is the editor-in-chief and may be reached at prospector@utep.edu; @by.itzel.giron on Instagram; @ itzel_anahi_16 on Twitter.

LEFT: Daniel Shiprack and his service dog, Buddha, have attended UTEP together for the past five years and will be graduating later this month.

TOP RIGHT: Buddha, the first of Shiprack’s service dogs and who keeps him safe from PTSD triggers. He will be walking the stage along with Shiprack as an honorary graduate.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Daisy Mae, second of Shiprack’s service dogs and is responsible for his resocialization into society.

Upcoming UTEP graduate Daniel Shiprack and his service dogs, Buddha and Daisy Mae, come together and pose for a photo. Photo by Joel Molina/The Prospector

Photos by Joel Molina/ The Prospector

was his attitude and his mannerisms,” Kareem said. “It wasn’t about bringing anyone down, and I think because of that smile he brought to everybody, people gravitated towards him and wanted to be around him, his presence alone meant the world to everybody”.

Tyler. C. Ragin is a 2020 UTEP Alumni who studied corporate communication with a minor in Creative Writing and was a UTEP track runner. She speaks of Cager’s influence on student athletes like herself. Ragin speaks in the film “Glory Road” and the realization to many who come to El Paso that these events happened, and it is important to think more broadly about how that person’s life was affected.

“Willie Cager to me was a trendsetter who literally paved the way for many people like me black student athletes, to come to UTEP and two, play in college sports at all,” Ragin said. “It’s alarming to

A possible frozen oasis

me to think how his life must have evolved over the years, but he was always so supportive of UTEP athletes, every single game, meet, match that he could go to, you’d see Willie rolling in.”

Ragin speaks on how even as a track runner, Cager recognized her in a Wal-Mart parking lot saying, “Hey I know you, you‘re that little fast track girl!” Showing up to UTEP sports events was extremely important to Cager as not only a former player, but fellow miner.

“The phrase ‘once a miner; always a miner’ holds true for Mr. Willie Cager,” Ragin said. “I really hope the city of El Paso can learn to be just as supportive in the same way as he was.”

This event hosted by UTEP showed how far kindness and support can go to a community, just like how Cager was to his community.

DREAM BIG AND THEN... DREAM BIGGER!

Although the prospect of an ice rink in the middle of a desert city might seem a little strange, the El Paso Hockey Association is one of the city’s biggest sports. They are composed of our home team, the El Paso Rhinos, which compete in NAHL (North American Hockey League) championships, and two ice skating clubs. In total, it handles around 500 members ranging from 2-year-olds to 18-year-olds.

It is not just local membership either, the Rhinos compete in

statewide games, in fact half of their season games are away and interstate, ranging from Colorado, to Georgia, Oklahoma, New Mexico and much more.

All of this is possible due to the state-of-the-art ice rink, located next to El Paso Coliseum, which has been the home of the Rhinos since 2006. However, the Hockey Association has been in El Paso for over 20 years, starting in 2001 with the Buzzards team. Since the Buzzards dissolvement, the Rhinos took their place, and moved into the ice rink

Unfortunately, news has struck

the team, as the ever-growing expansion of the United StatesMexican border port of entry can cause potential demolition of the ice rink and Coliseum.

“We will not be collateral damage,” said Tyler Deloach, vice president of the El Paso Rhinos. “I’m not against the expansion, but we can’t lose everything we have built.” Deloach has been with the Rhinos since 2013. Graduating from Georgetown, she immediately started as an office worker for the team, working her way to vice president. However, hockey has

see FROZEN on page 8

The Office of Student Fellowships and Awards supports UTEP students who are applying for nationally competitive scholarships and fellowships to fund graduate school and overseas experiential learning (research, teaching assistantships, etc.).

What is an external fellowship?

Nationally competitive funding opportunities that are:

• Based on academic merit as opposed to financial need

• Open to students from a variety of majors

• Eligibility, application materials, and deadlines vary depending on the award

• Involve a substantial amount of time commitment and careful planning

What do these awards provide?

Depends on the award, includes but is not limited to:

• Funding for overseas experiential learning: research, intensive language study, teaching assistantships, etc., both during undergrad and beyond Funding for graduate school either domestically or abroad

Why should I apply?

The application process is a form of professional development in and of itself:

• Become a more confident writer

• Sharpen interviewing skills

• Think critically about future goals

Is my first or second year too early to start thinking about these opportunities?

Absolutely not! Most applications are due junior or senior year, but joining our Undergraduate Fellows Program as a first-year student or sophomore will help you prepare.

H. Catching Marginot is a contributor and may be reached at hcmarginot@miners.utep.edu.

CAGER

UTEP hosted a public memorial for Willie Cager at the Don Haskins Center on April 14.

Photo by Jasmin Campoya/The Prospector

El Paso County Coliseum, opened in 1942, was advised by Veronica Escobar to be taken down to expand the port of entry. Photo by SalmaPaola Baca/The Prospector

been a lifelong passion.

“My mother was a cheerleader coach for the Buzzards, and I was a bench bug since I can remember,” Deloach said.

The city plans for the port of entry have proposed three solutions: they take the surrounding areas of the Bridge of the Americas (BOTA), avoiding demolition but preventing any expansion for them. Or two additional massive size expansions that end in the rink and Coliseum’s demolition.

“We have just finished renovation in 2020, estimated in around a million dollars,” Deloach said. “At this time, no compensations have been discussed, but if it comes to it, the Rhinos will live on, one way or another.”

Regardless of the city’s intentions, any form of upgrade to current infrastructure will inevitably affect all existing residents. However, in this case the demolition of the rink and Coliseum could spell disaster for the El Paso Hockey Association.

According to FreightWaves, “More than 650,000 cargo trucks crossed the border using the YsletaZaragoza International Bridge in 2022, while 161,439 trucks used the Bridge of the Americas.”

This number also causes numerous blocks for civilian cars and long waiting hours for residents of both countries. Whatever the city decides, it will have a fundamental impact in the city’s future.

Eugenio Cantu is a contributor and may be reached at ecantu3@miners.utep.edu.

Moms and Majors: A safe space for student parents on campus

Hernandez had the idea of running her organization. The idea of empowering other student parents by being one herself.

Juggling a full-time job, university, and parenting can take a large toll on many UTEP students. Though the daycares and babysitters do help, many parents may need to bring their kids to class as there may not be another option.

Yaretsy Hernandez, a senior majoring in rehabilitation science is the founder of the organization. She is a full-time parent with a son turning two years old and manages to also work, go to school, and run a student organization. Her trials and tribulations made her more determined as a student and a parent.

“My pregnancy was really tough,” Hernandez said. “It was kind of spontaneous and by preference I wanted to keep the baby, but I also knew that I was also too young, and I also didn’t want to stop coming to school.”

Even through this, Hernandez stayed determined to stay in school and push through to earn her degree. Moms and Majors is an organization focusing on the importance of UTEP students who are parents. The group started back in 2022 when the founder

Hernandez then met Krystal Valdez;and both collaborated to create a new environment for parents to feel less alone.

“I didn’t know where to fit in any of the other student organizations because all these other student organizations have really strict policies, and I have some responsibilities that no other student has or they might have, but I couldn’t really assimilate to them,” Hernandez said.

This organization brings in parents from diverse communities to share their experiences of raising a child while in school. The group members can share advice and give a hand to one another when the struggles of life come into play.

“We like to focus on becoming a safe space for parents, dads, moms, and family caretakers to join us in this journey called life,” Hernandez said.

The organization has partnered up with many organizations from UTEP such as Por Mi Familia to share the resources they offer.

“I know most of our members, they don’t have childcare services

or family even here on campus to help them with their kids,” Hernandez said. “They bring them to school because I see that they want to continue with their major.”

Members are allowed to bring their kids to the meetings so that they can bond with one another just as the parents get to learn from one another. The experience and opportunities they share allow them to understand the struggles of parenthood while also being able to lean on one another.

During the semester, the organization hosted a baby and me

photoshoot for the parents that are involved in the group.

“Incorporating our children to come on campus and see that, this could also be their home,” Hernandez said. “They can look up to us and also for them to further their education as well.”

Moms and Majors is open to any parent at UTEP who has a 2.5-grade point average and attend one of the two meetings monthly. For more information visit @momsnmajors on Instagram.

Avery Escamilla-Wendell is the staff reporter and may be reached at amescamilla@minets.utep.edu or on Instagram @by_avery_escamilla.

Yaretsy Hernandez is a senior majoring in rehabilitation science and is the founder of Moms and Majors, a new organization that focuses on the importance of UTEP students and parents. Photo courtesy of Yaretsy Hernandez

FROZEN

UTEP’S NEWEST TOP 10 SENIORS

Graduation symbolizes the end of a journey and the accomplishment of a goal. Routines were often established. Students tried their best to get a degree, but some went the extra mile. That’s the case for the 2023 Top 10 Seniors, students who demonstrated dedication to volunteering, perseverance, and commitment to advancement.

“I feel extremely happy to have made a positive impact in my community,” said Ashley Delgado. “Serve as a leader for younger generations coming from underrepresented backgrounds to always persevere and dream big to overcome any challenges and obtain a perspective of seeing challenges as opportunities.”

For most of them, getting this award is a recognition for their hard work and dedication. Not only that, but an affirmation of being a proud Miner and their capability to achieve their set goals.

“It really means a lot to me,” said Christian Campos. “It’s a great reflection of my journey here at UTEP.”

“Being a Top Ten Senior is a huge honor,” said Ian Valdez. “I have enjoyed meeting the other students and the mutual respect we have for one another has been rewarding.”

The application process was simple for some of them since they had applied for different awards in the past. However, others found it challenging and overwhelming. That was the case for Sarah Mickelson, Truman scholarship recipient.

“The process was somewhat stressful because I was also finishing up my Truman application at the same time,” said Mickelson. “I almost did not submit because I was not sure if I was going to get my letters of recommendation on time. But, it allowed me to reflect on my time here at UTEP and on all of the great things I’ve been able to do here.”

Mickelson is the university’s first Truman scholar since 2006. This award opened many doors for her success. It gave her internship and mentorship opportunities, along with funding for future studies like law school. UTEP offered her support and advice during the long process.

“I approached a lot of people for help,” said Mickelson. “Jen Green at

the OFSA helped me a lot, as well as my mentors from the Political Science Department and the El Paso Public Defender’s office. My friends and family were very supportive as well.”

As all these amazing students have shown, UTEP is a friendly and backing community. The university helped them find the right way to carry out their goals and dreams.

“UTEP to me represents opportunity,” said Iberty Trevino. “I never imagined that I would be able to study in DC or Austin, but UTEP made that a reality.”

“UTEP has offered me all the resources to be and compete at the same level as other students from more renowned universities such as Stanford, Harvard,” said Carlos Castañon “I have participated in opportunities where I have competed and worked alongside those kinds of students, and I truly see the value of this university.”

From when they first started college until now, all of them have reached achievements they thought were impossible. From creating a big impact in UTEP and El Paso community, to representing the university around the world.

“I recently returned from my

Archer Center fellowship in Washington, D.C.,” said Valdez. “I never even knew that these opportunities were available for students when I was a freshman. I had the honor to intern at the office of Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), the first and only Latina elected to the Senate.”

These students got the chance to experience incredible opportunities like internships and different awards. Mickelson see these experiences as not only personal and professional growth, but as an incentive to help and serve the community in the future.

The Top 10 Seniors have big plans after graduation. Some will do internships, find a job or get their master’s degree.

“I plan on working at a congressional office,” said Valdez. “Either here or in Washington, D. C. for a few years before attending law school.”

“I plan in finishing my master’s here at UTEP,” said Mickelson. “Then applying for a Fulbright or Marshall scholarship. I also have the chance to do a year in D.C. at an internship of my choice.”

“I’m going to be attending Baylor College of Medicine this summer,”

said Campos. “I’ll be studying at their position assistant program.”

Filled with gratefulness and joy, many of them want to give back to UTEP. They want to repay to their community in any way possible so future students will have even more opportunities and encourage future generations.

“My biggest goal is to give back to UTEP a lot of what has given me and more,” said Castañon. “I really have a passion of helping Hispanics in STEM, so I want to stablish many opportunities you see in other universities.”

“My biggest goal in life is to use my education as a power/tool to impact the borderland community,” said Delgado. “Continue encouraging and mentoring younger generations of students to believe in their potential to pursue a higher education.”

These Miners are prepared for what the future will bring to the table. They are the example of what UTEP does for students both academically and professionally, and even personally. The future looks bright for this next generation.

Angelica Gutierrez is a contributor and may be reached at agutierrez89@miners.utep.edu

Professor returns to UTEP to impact students

Entering as a nervous freshman in 2010, a professor whose roots and identity are tied to a university that has stood by his side all these years, Professor Jose D. Maldonado, a UTEP graduate, owes his success to the university.

Graduating in 2015 with a communication studies degree, Maldonado stayed at UTEP to pursue his master’s degree in 2017 and considers those years influential.

“It was more than I expected that it would be, I loved my under-

graduate experience that’s why I am still here,” Maldonado said. “I miss it sometimes because I had great professors, I had a lot of professors in the communications department as well that were super impactful and now, they’re my colleagues.”

Working across his boss‘s office, Richard Pineda, Ph.D., someone he once called professor, now comes full circle as Maldonado considers Pineda as someone who helped guide and mentor him through his education and someone he admires.

“I put him through so much during my two years in my master’s program because I was just not

getting it and he stood by me, so he definitely mentored me and till this day, he has still been there, and I appreciate a lot on what he has done for this department,” Maldonado said.

Maldonado, a full-time professor has spent five years teaching communication classes, he never felt ready to leave UTEP after getting his bachelor’s as he considers UTEP to be home and part of his identity.

“I felt it was too soon, like I wasn’t ready and another thing that Dr. Pineda said that resonated with me, is that coming to school for

another two years buys you time, to decide what you want to do in case you’re not ready after your bachelors,” Maldonado said. “I loved the environment here, the community, is just a big part of my life and identity, and I know people have different experiences, they can‘t wait to leave but wasn’t the case for me, I had much more to learn.”

Though Maldonado loves to teach and enjoys engaging with his students and building personal connections, being a professor was not something that Maldonado wanted to do or was on his mind growing up.

“What I wanted to do was be on the radio, I had this voice since eighth grade, and I remembered that I loved music and listening to the radio, and I was like you know what I can definitely do this as a career,” Maldonado said. “I worked at KTEP and Kiss-FM for about six years and I thought that is what I wanted to do with my life but as I got older experiences changes, especially when I went to grad school.” Being a teaching assistant for Pineda during his first year of graduate school opened many doors for Maldonado to get a

feel for teaching. This experience helped Maldonado teach his own courses during his second year of graduate school.

Passionate about teaching, Maldonado’s endeavors at UTEP did not ends as soon, as he landed a job in 2017 as an adjunct professor teaching public speaking. Stepping

into classrooms where he once sat and interacting with colleagues who were once former professors was quite an adjustment for Maldonado.

“When I was first here it was weird because I was like ‘I am here, what do I do? Am I doing this correctly, are they judging me because I was just a student and do I deserve

to be here, do they think I’m not qualified enough to be here,”’ Maldonado said. “After my third year I was more cemented like yeah, I do belong here and I’m glad that I am here, and I continue to work to make sure that I bring value to this department.”

Inspired by his students, Maldonado started his Ph.D. education

program at UTEP. Despite being raised by a single mom and growing up in a household surrounded by women, he will always be grateful for what UTEP has given back to him as it has changed his life.

“I’m very proud to be from UTEP, we are very prestigious at least when it comes to research, and UTEP has produced a lot of

Center for Accommodations and Support Services

College of Health Sciences

College of Nursing

College of Science

Dean of Students

Department of Philosophy

Earth, Environmental, and Resource Sciences

Housing and Residence Life

Office of International Students and Study Abroad

Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Office of Student Fellowships and Awards

Office of The President

Physics Department

School of Pharmacy

Student Engagement and Leadership Center

University Event

Union Services

Vice President for Student Affairs

graduates, but it has changed my life and that’s why I make it a part of my identity because I wasn’t the best kid growing up,” Maldonado said. “When I got to UTEP it really changed me because this was the life that I want and if it wasn’t for UTEP I don’t know what I’ll be doing so I’m really grateful.”

Erik Acosta is a staff reporter and may be reached at emacosta6@miners.utep.edu

COMIC BY MAYA ALVARADO MALVARADO29@MINERS.UTEP.EDU

THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO Class of

SPRING 2023

Graduate College of Engineering

Doctor of Philosophy

Benjamin Arras

Mahsa Beizaei

Mariana Benitez

Jin A. Collins

Lucas Jonathan Galey

Marcus Paul Gutierrez

Arash Karimi Pour

Cory Marquez

Jean Emmanuel Montes Ramirez

Erasmo Morales

Anindita Nath

Sayed Mohsin Reza

Edgar Daniel Rodriguez Velasquez

Wai Yan Elsa Tai Ramirez

Jose Armando Terrazas

Ismael Villanueva Miranda

Master of Engineering in Civil and Environmental Engineering

Alejandro Santiago Mandujano

Master of Science

Janeth Allison

Ricardo Alvarez

Karen Hayde Alvarez Gil

Erick Alvarez Velazquez

Martin Avila Jr.

Priscila Balanzar Almazan

Raghu Vamshi Bandlamudi

Debapriya Banik

Daniel Emmanuel Bernal

Lianna Nayumi Bourdony

Omar Fayez Boureslan

Abigail Bueno

Luis Camacho

Brian Alberto Cardiel

Alan Chavira

Carolyne Chepkosgei

Clinton Nwagbo Chijioke

Samuel Andres Chong

Jonatan Miguel Contreras

Esteban Alfonso Cook

Gabriel Antonio Corella

Kristina Marie Coria

Miguel Fabian Corral

Elena Coyne

Joshua Zahn Renaldo Dantzler

Jennifer Nicole De Alba

Jazmyne Victoria Del Hierro

Ashley Alejandra Delgado

Eva Alondra Diaz Lozano

Bosco Do

Valeria Duron

Omar Elizalde

Pablo Escalera Contreras

Edgar Josue Escobedo

Carlos Andrey Estrada

Alejandro Faz

Alejandra Flores Sanchez

Juan Daniel Galindo

Ivan Guadalupe Galindo Leal

Andres Garcia

Gladys Stella Garcia

Kennedy Garcia

Jose Carlos Garcia Marquez Basaldua

Sofia Gabriela Gomez

Abner Gomez Hinostroza

Michael Norberto Guillen

Callan Austin Herberger

Jorge Alejandro-Cuathemoc Jeria

Luis Eduardo Lares Carrillo

Emmanuel Levario

Diana Hazel Leyva Marquez

Alan Eduardo Licerio Mata

Leonel Lopez Gonzalez

Javier Madrid

Luis Angel Marquez-Calleros

Oscar Eduardo Martinez

Victor Adrian Medrano Balderas

Manuel Raul Melendez Lujan

Jamie Maria Mena

Bryan Alejandro Molina

Daniela Morales Lopez

Marisol Mota

Karen Ailyn Munoz Chavez

Meghan Kathleen Murphy

Kevin Salem Narvaez Yeverino

Christian Steve Nieto

Saul Noriega Landa

Carlos Roberto Perezares

Roberto Ponce Garcia

Jesus Presa-Quiroz

Brandon Ramirez Luis Daniel Ramirez Burgueno

Fernando Ramirez Frias

Michelle Andrea Rascon

Lauren Rein

Amador Reyes

Erika Nancy Reyes

Timoteo Reyes De La Hoya

Antonio Bruno Robali

Roberto Rodarte

Adrian Rodriguez

Viviana Irais Rodriguez

Erick Armando Rosales Cepeda

Md Abu Sayed

Jorge Anselmo Sias

Jennifer Annette Sims

Cynthia Skains

Jesus Santiago Valenciana

Jesus Alan Valerio Hernandez

Daniel Adrian Villanueva Luna

Ismael Villanueva Miranda

LaVorick DeCardea Williams

Scott Wilson

Master of Science in Environmental Engineering

Martin Chavarin Jr.

College of Liberal Arts

Doctor of Philosophy

Jessica Renee Bray

John William Capps IV

Isabelle May Clough

Israel Garcia Carachure

Luciana Maria Herman

Freddy Mauricio Jaimes Jaimes

Chantra Potts

Bibhushana Poudyal

Juan Carlos Varela

Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies

Amy Renae Marlin

Rachel J. McVeaTaylor Rosanna Morales

Master in Public Administration

Valerie Marisela Armendariz

Ronald Francis Awatt

Laura Borunda

Khawand Canty

Scott Cole

Guadalupe Diaz

Matthew John Ibarra

Sonia Andrea Macias

Cory Thomas Messingham

Robert Gene Rudolph Jr.

Sah-Jay Avanay Stevens

Andrea Paulina Trillo

Master of Arts

Manal Faraj Aboargob

Rashad Amir Adams

Chimee George Adioha

Christus Charmel P O Alapini

Ryan Landess Alexander

Oluwatobiloba Ayomide Amusan

Zaida Barron

Joshua J. Caldwell

Louis John Castillo

William Newton Clinkscales

Jazmine Janay Cuevas

Christy Sawa Eichelberger

Lauren Teresa Shaw Flores

Angelica Ariadnee Gandara

Justin Malik Garrett

Alyssa Rae Garza

Harvey Giles Gilliam

Emily Green Bianca Valentina Gurrola

Grace Judith Hanzelin

Rebeca Hernandez Ortega

Oscar Iniguez Perez

Kityara U’Nae James

Andrew Kosterman

Justin Dallas LaBonte

James Garner Langford

Sophia Rose Lewis

Kaitlyn Louring Magnuson

Jesus Tlaloc Maldonado

Mayra Alejandra Martinez

Perla Guadalupe Martinez

Ileana Morales

Pilar Aurelio Munoz

Sarah Nicole Najera

Alexia Xiomara Nava Carmona

Seth Elijah Newsome

Annette Nicholls-Sanders

Sofia Teresa Pena

Rhiana Raquel Perez

Yesenia Rodriguez

Mara Isabel Rodriguez Gamez

Emily A. Romero

Christian Ruiz

Aimee Adriana Santillan

Brady A. Stephens

Cayleb Bryant Stives

David Matthew Tanner

William G. Tarrant

Mason Keith Taylor

Raoul Tayou Tayou

Roberto Mariano Terrazas

Valerie Marie Terrazas

Bradley Toles

Lilliana F. Valdespino

Vianney Zuniga

Master of Defense and Strategic Studies

Benjamin Alejandro Coronado

Austin Riley Martinez

Mohamed Rabi Yusuf

Master of Fine Arts

Marisol Adame

Ana Lucila Cagnoni

Ila Renee Eisert

Alyssa Renai Estrada

Claudia Viridiana Flores Ramirez

Jesse Hanna

Kara Marie Hollowell

Kara Ashley- Howell Hyles

Stanley Onjezani Kenani

Pauline Juliet Ku

David LaBounty

Traci L. Larussa

Jamie Rae Meyer

Ariel Orlando Moreno Estrada

Jacob Buel Phillips

Melisa Alis Spencer

Margarita Vargas

Master of Music

Sergio Emanuel Amador

Abel Baez

Leslee Joy Becker

Oseas Cartagena

Luis Pablo Cervantes Pasqualli

Fernando Antonio Fonseca Gonzalez

Kyle Robert Gurule

Jennifer Martinez-Perez

Trevor Mayhall

Ana Cristina Pedraza Mata

Taelon Jorn Stonecipher

Antwuan Walters

Alexander Ethan Wright

Master of Science

Vanessa Luz Avelar

Diana Avila

Matthew John Duran

Bridgette Gonzalez

Manuel Loya

Saray Lozano

Alyssa Mabel Navarro

Mayra Eydie Pacheco

Jessica Costa Reyes Soliz

Cosette I. Rodriguez

Rayleen Rodriguez

Peter Vincent Ruiz

Nia Marie Smith

Austin Trevor Sullivan

Valeria Torres-Rivera

College of Science

Doctor of Philosophy

Javier Arturo Aguilera

Andrews Tawiah Anum

Peter Kwadwo Asante

Victoria Lynn Castro

Marisol Dominguez

William Kubin

Panfeng Liang

Jane Karen Martinez

Lisa J. Molofsky

Aruna Narayanan Nair

Kenichiro Negishi

John Gilbert Olgin

Mohan Pant

Mireya Griselle Ramos Muniz

Shengjie Sun

THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO

Master of Arts in Teaching

Patricia S. Barrientos

Adrian Portillo

Hillary Quiroz

Luis Pablo Ramirez

Master of Science

Shaibu Akolgo

Denise Avalos

Habeeb Abolaji Bashir

Amanda Maria Bataycan

Jose Gustavo Bravo Flores

Teslin Susann Chaney

Cassandra Guadalupe Del Rio De Avila

Jeremiah Domfeh

Rosa Elena Espana

Julien Edward Esquivel

Marc Adrian Garcia

Marco Alejandro Gomez

Dawa Wangchuk Gyalpo

Perry Ivan Houser

Michael David Laase

Zhaobo Li

Sergio Gerardo Macias

Tahiru Mahama

Stephanie Nicole Marquez

Lizbeth Vanessa Martinez Lopez

Jorge Andres Mayo

Pedro Ulises Medina Gonzalez

Valeria Isabel Molina

David Edward Muller

Viridiana Orona

Briana Alyce Salcido

Julie Marie Schlichte

Dayo Abdulhaleem Shittu

David James Simpson

Diana Isabel Vielma

Nicholas James Wilson

Madison Clare Woelfel

Yuanhong Wu

Ulrich Zeukeng Vope

College of Education

Doctor of Education

Louisa Aguirre-Baeza

Carla Cardoza

Cynthia Chavez

Daniel Rodriguez Dominguez

Mona Plaza

Dianna Rios

Guadalupe Vela

Brenda Velazquez

Doctor of Philosophy

Selfa Alejandra Chew-Melendez

Manuela Alejandra Gomez

Jair Alejandro Munoz

Josey Marie Pickett

Julio Hector Solis

Beatriz Garcia Soria

Carlos Manuel Vargas

Master of Arts

Andres Jose Encerrado Manriquez

Alyssa Nichole Huizar

Khamail Salah Jalil

Cynthia Ochoa

Anai L. Saenz

John Peter Umali Sy

Joseph Isaac Ybarra

Mizael Zuniga

Master of Education

Ivan G. Acosta

Luz Belen Aguayo

Brenda Maria Aguirre

Mercedes E. Barron

Virginia Estelle Bernal

Laeshaun Beverly

Brandy Blanco-Acosta

Katherine Marie Boling

Laura Liliana Borjas

Berenice Cardenas

Sergio Cardenas

Ruth Carranza

Rocio Castaneda

Kasandra D. Caston

Lizette Chavez Castro

Robert Louis Cervantes

Stephanie Renee Chacon

Vanessa Marie Chacon

Crystal Ariana Chavez

Francisco Chavez

Maria Laura Chavez

Manuel Blaine Combs Jr.

Adan G. Contreras

Erin Kelly Del Arca

Jennifer Lindberg Dower

Zoula L. Fabela

Claudia Favela

Raquel Favela

Caitlin Rose Florio

Idaly Galindo

Brandon Gamboa

Danielle Nichole Garcia

Mabel Garcia

Shirley Dennisse Garnsey

Clarissa Gonzalez

Claudia A. Gonzalez

Christina Harbrink

Liza Ann Harvey

Susana Z. Hernandez

Yvonne Hidalgo

Cruz Elena Ibarra

Joseph Kababie

Lauren Casey Lazo

Alejandro Lobera

Luis Fernando Loera

Andrea Nicole Lopez Morse

Miguel Martinez Jr.

Adriana Mendoza

Cedrick Randolph Miller

Daniella Monsivais

Destiny Danielle Morales Ortega

Gabriela Alexandra Nazario

Rachel Neff

Sonia Olivares

Omar Eduardo Olivas

Lilia Jessica Ontiveros

Blanca V. Palacios

Imelda Perez

Isela Pichardo

Maria Guadalupe Pina

Caroline Pitts

Alejandra Plascencia

Raquel Estella Portillo

Saul G. Ramirez

Laura Rodriguez

Sandy Marie Romo

Helen S. Rosales

Clarissa Rybicki

Jose Alfredo Salinas

Nancy Nallely Sepulveda

Isis Jasen Silva

Laura A. Smith

Miryam Castruita Terrazas

Lauren Ashley Terry

Stephen Thomas

Odra Julieta Tort

Denisee Tovar

Alfredo Valenzuela Jr.

Jenifer Norbertha Valenzuela

Marissa Manuela Venegas

Jennifer Lynn Villa

Angela Villalobos

Perla Zamora

Master of Rehabilitation

Counseling

Kennedy Cordero Corichi

Gary MacEoin

Silvia Susana Marquez

Eric Martinez

Daniel Allen Shiprak

Master of Science

Julie Alvarez

Diana Laura Becerra

Krystal Priscilla Ceniceros

Gabriela Alejandra Gandara

Ana Jazmin Herrera Aquino

Daniela Lagunes

Trudy Louise Lettunich

Marlenne Lizardo

Carlos Humberto Loubriel

Haide Ortiz

Gissel Monique Ramirez

Veronica Rico

Daniela Ariana Rodriguez Garcia

Arturo Rubio

Daniela Maria Ruvalcaba

Laura Benita Salazar

College of Business Administration

Doctor of Philosophy

Soochan Choi

Sedat Erdogan

Jessica Felix Martinez

Michael Mcgonigle

Jiwoo Seo

Yu-Tan Wang

Master of Accountancy

Jannell Denise Ballin

Allison I. Cadena

Diana D. Camacho

Jennifer Canez-Rodriguez

Carmina Casas Herrera

Patricia Chavez

Jacklyn Cortez

Mary Julie Cortez

Gilbert Favela Jr.

Crisel Flores Ramirez

Norberto Gallardo Ramirez Sr.

Ceasar Anthony Garcia

Mercedes Francisca Guizar

Emma C. Lasley

Norma Daniela Ovies

Moraima Daisy Rivera

Chimi Wangchuk

Master of Business Administration

Ruby Jeanette Aguayo

Andrew Hugo Almaguer

Andrew Ryan Alvarez

Karla Larissa Arredondo

Hugo Alejandro Baca

Oscar Normando Barraza Jr.

Ali Baysal

Denisse Angelica Cadena Medina

Jesus J. Carrasco

Arturo Catalan Vitela

Marisol Fernanda Chavez

Juan Manuel Coronado

Mark Austin Denton

Hillary Ellen Dudley

Luisa Fernanda Duenas Huerta

Fransheska Garcia

Iris A. Guillen

Claire Marcelina Hernandez

Danielle Andrea Lara

Rebecca Lattimore

Brianna Ashley Licerio

Carlos A. Lopez

Maria Carolina Lopez

Jessica Aide Lopez Mesta

Isaac A. Lozano

Pablo Machado

John Mark Joy Madhu

Daniel Anthony Maes

Arleth Marin Gutierrez

Christopher Illan Mauldin

Sarah Elisabeth Medrano

Luisa Fernanda Muela

Arely Najera

Albert Nava

Angel Rae Navarrete

Ricardo Partezan Bianchini

Natalie Pena

Nicole Pena

Raquel Ayme Ponce

Garren Pride

Mehnaz Rahman

Andrea Ramirez

Juan Jose Ramirez Jr.

Yvonne B. Ramirez

Mayra Guadalupe Rosillo

Karen Salazar

Hector Rene Soltero Jr.

Troy Torres

Jesus Alberto Venzor

Whitney Jo Walker

Sylvia M. Ware

Fandi Viridiana Zapien Lopez

Zhiye Zhang-Huang

Master of Science

Eric Leonardo Escobosa Mendoza

Edgar Luis Monroy

Juan Antonio Rodriguez Alvarado

College of Health Sciences

Doctor of Philosophy

Sarah Jean Elkington

Silvia Salinas Lopez

Hunter Wayne Turnipseed

Doctor of Physical Therapy

Peyton Arneson

Michelle G. Arroyo

Rebeca Baeza

Troy Kraig Belcher

Kacey Weaner Bisienere

Braiden Luke Danley Burks

Mauricio Calvo

Talia Cmaylo

Liliana De Castro

Justin Christopher Esparza

Cicely Fabiano

Valerie Fairley

Ramon Miguel Fajardo

Caitlyn Paige Ferguson

Andres Horacio Fernandez

Sebastian Saul Garcia

Vanessa Annette Garcia

Kenneth David Hastings Heimer

Edgar Hinojosa

Jung Gil Kim

Jessica Lynn Maddox

Bianca Lisette Magallanes

Alexis Yvette Mendez

Kristin St. John Moreno

Guillermo Mota

Kendall Duane Pieper

Leslie Porras

Jozelyn A. Rascon

Halil E. Rodriguez

Erick Ruben Sorto

Anh Van Tran

Master of Public Health

Nayla Paulina Bejarano Chacon

Adren Darius Warling

Master of Science

Carolina Nicole Adame

Marcos Aguilar

Victoria Danielle Aguilar

Zohra Amber Ali

Brianna M. Aliyas

Ana-Paula Anaya

Natalia Bustillos

Roberto L. Casillas

Dee Iris Delgado

Patricia Ann Dentinger

Derek Dermont Emmett

Kylynn Nicole Enriquez

Paola Grajeda

Ayzzar Gurrola

Dyann E. Herrera

Valeria Angelica Holguin

Gianella Alison Lainez

Jazmin Lopez

Marissa Lopez

Thanya Martinez

Sophia Jacqueline Melendez Orozco

Alysa Rae Mier

Natalie Morales

Brianna Lee Mundell

Claudia S. Pacheco

Sabrina Jane Infante Quiapo

Samantha Rae Sandoval

Tatiana Sluus

Maria Tran

Master of Social Work

Natalia Eileen Cardona

Natalie Nicole Castro

Katya Neida Compian

Rosa Elvira Escalante Lopez

Claudia Fuentes

Alejandra Nicole Garcia

Basti Gonzalez

Maria Andrea Gutierrez

Michelle A. Hernandez

Melissa Herrera

Julie Anne Krill

Angelica Lastra-Farley

Andrew Luevano

Khristina Magdaleno

Manuel Humberto Morales Jr.

Naomi Marie Muro

Paola Ortiz

Alyssa Alexis Pedregon

Jessica Perez

Brenda L. Ramirez Vara

Aaron Rene Rascon

Ariana Jasmin Rodarte

Jodie Amanda Rodriguez

Jorge Carlos Rossell

“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

HAPPY GRADUATION DAY FROM THE OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS AND STUDY ABROAD !

Jessica Ruiz

Edna I. Salcido Reyes

Aracely Valdez

Daisey Valenciano

Fernanda Irene Villarreal

College of Nursing

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Lora Barocio

Erika Beltran

Salalau Blocker

Yadira Ivonne Cabrera

Erik Garcia

Berenice Monarez

Lynda Pena-Human

Celene Milagros Robles

Mayedel Austria San Jose

Christina Valle

Sarah Petersen Whittington

Master of Science in Nursing

Ashley Marie Aguilar

Melissa Aldrete

Sarah Lynn Anderson

Ivana Sinead Archuleta

Veronica Bahner

Paige Allyse Barrera

Gina Denise Beverly

Felipe Campos

Jocelyn Carnero

Frances Aidyn Chavez

Marielle Karyna Chavez

Eileen L. Contreras

Magaly Diaz

Uchechi Sharon Dibia

Aeschel L. Duran

Jaclyn Michelle Fike-Taveras

Elizabeth Frazier

Brian Fucanan

Natalie Gaytan

Jacqueline Holguin

Sabrinah Azriel Jackson

Patricia Joseph

Samantha E. Kasper

Jennifer Marie Lamon-Robles

Jaclyn N. Ledesma

Gladys Lerma

Mary Elizabeth Lewis

Celene Lopez

Karla Karina Loya-Gallardo

Nicole Marie Makrakis

Ernesto Alonzo Marquez

Yvonne Alejandra Martinez

Jacqueline Samantha McMiller

Crystal Eujenia Molina

Yvette Guadalupe Moreno

Leah Marie Munoz

Marlene Alejandra Munoz

Courtney Navarette

Alvaro Alonso Nieto

Sara Mayela Ornelas

Jacqueline Desiree Parada

Marcela Parra

Victoria Hope Pierce

Anna Porter

Karina Quintana

Joan Kristine Ranola

Adriana Rodriguez

Kathie De La Paz Rosario

Cody James Sadler

Josephine Tomah

Victor Urra Puentes

Diana Ivette Valverde Cano

Jazmin Vargas

Isaac Alfredo Villado

Marcus Hilario White

Maria Dolores Wolfe

School of Pharmacy

Doctor of Pharmacy

Bryan Zachary Alawneh

Diana Aragon

Daniela Barrio

Peyton E. Beck

Gloria Selene Burciaga

Maia Castillo

Adrian Chavez Serrato

Jangkwon Cho

Francisco Contreras

Victoria Inez Corella

Judith Curiel

Myrna Curiel

Cassandra Dominguez

Jennifer Dominguez

Susan Paola Enriquez

Stephanie Falcon

Natalie M. Fernandez

Amanda Rae Flores

Angel Garcia

Adriana Garcilazo

Juan Antonio Guerrero III

Jessica Ellen Hargett

Jacquelyn Nadine Juarez

Daniel Landeros Jr.

Daphine Liang

Ines Paulina Medel

Kassandra Nikole Moran

Cesar Octavio Moreno Aguilar

Samuel E. Nava

Marietta Margaret Nicholas

April A. Noonan

Karen A. Olivas

Ehimen D. Omoegbele

Isabel Omoegbele

Jose Raul Orona

Elvia Oropeza

Valerie M. Perez

Esteban A. Quezada

Michael Isaac Quintela

Kayla Quintero

Samantha Reveles

Aldo Isac Rojas

Jorge Javier Romero

Celeste Marie Rosales

Beshoy M. Saied

Stephanie Marie Soto

Paulina Soto-Ruiz

Jacqueline Beatrice Triana

Martin Valdez Jr.

Ashley Rae Whitworth

Hndrien Yamin

Engineering Science/ Interdisciplinary

Doctor of Philosophy

Shima Masoudi Asil

Niveditha Nanda

Truman James Word

Class of 2023

Undergraduate

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

Bachelor of Arts

Applied Learning and Development

Faith Alvarado

Stephanie Anguiano

Abigail Archuleta

Anais G. Blanco

Cynthia C. Camacho

Jazmine Yvonne Castro

Yvonne Chairez

Michelle Alexis Chavez

Ingrid De La Cruz

Amber L. Dominguez

Erika S. Enriquez

Isabella Nicole Frias

Vania Galindez Flores

Stephanie Verenice Garcia

Melanie Amber Gloria

Amanda Leigh Gonzalez

Monica Gonzalez

Toni J. Guerrero

Eliana Neomi Jaime

Jasmine Juarez

Victoria Melissa Julian

Steven Enrique Lino

Denise Marquez

Yahaira G. Martinez

Kristen L. McClure

Desiree D. Mora

Genesis Aline Moreno

Arantxa Murillo

Ariana Abigail Nazario

Alyssa Niclol Olvera

Alfredo Pedraza

Tania A. Pliego

Ricardo Ponce Jr

Yahaira Ponce

Vicente Alfredo Quintana

Stephanie Renteria

Samantha Nicolle Rico

Janine Rojas

Diana Salas

Dania F. Salgado Dominguez

Alejandra Silva

Matthew David Stretton

Tracy Torres

Rosa Elena Valdivia

Bachelor of Science

Education

Melissa Araceli Aguilar

Sandra M. Albizures

Priscilla Fernanda Andreu

Norma G. Anguiano

Richard Apodaca

Luisa Fernanda Aranda

Johana Marisol Armenta

Marisa Marie Arteaga

America Barraza

Andrea Nicole Bernal

Veronica Cardenas

Krista Danielle Carrasco

Beatriz Carreon

Ana L. Castillo

Melissa D. Castillo

Gabriel Catarino Jr

Amanda Cazares

Vianney Chairez

Jacqueline Chavez

Stephanie Lynn Chavez

Carmen Valer Corral

Arlene Karina Covarrubias

Mirna Del Bosque

Dianna Victoria Diaz

Sofia Escajeda

Brenda Lizet Estrada

Briana Sara Estrada

Valeria Y. Estrada

Dulce Ivonne Falcon

Myrna America Fraire

Melissa P. Garcia

Kimberly Melissa Gibson

Blanca Suhey Gloria

Karina Elena Gomez

Alejandra Guardado Ortiz

Victoria Gurrola

Bianca D. Hernandez

Diana Hernandez

Haley Ann Hernandez

Victoria Hernandez

Nereiah Leeann Herrera

Michelle Jezbera

Geraldine A. Jimenez

Karina Yvette Lopez

Karla Abilene Lopez

Kendra Gabrielle Lopez

Perla Smirna Lopez

Liliana Lozoya

April Nicole Luevano

Claudia Cecilia Lujan

Tracey Luna

Camellia Cassandra Maldonado

Samantha Maldonado

Sabrina S. Mancilla

Liliana I. Marquez II

Melissa Martinez

Nikita Tara Mendoza

Margarita Meza

Alexandra Nicole Miranda

Angela Mayrin Mireles

Isabella E. Molina

Beatriz Montes Alvarado

Zaeta Morales

Arielle C. Moreno

Maria Luisa Murillo Flores

Maryel Ivana Noriega

Gabrielle Andrea Ontiveros

Lilibelle Ortiz

Klarissa Perea

Daniela Alejandra Perez Torres

Irene Ponce De Leon

Aaron A. Posada

Jessica Puente

Jennifer Resendiz

Jessica Rivas

Maira Yisela Rivera

Airam Rodriguez

Alejandra Rodriguez

Lizet P. Rojo

Andrea Michelle Ruiz

Alejandra Soto Saenz

Joselyn Lizette Salinas

Yared Sanchez

Idaliz Imelda Sierra

Anahi Silva

Angelica Ivonne Siqueiros

Jailyn Cristobal Subia

Xena E. Tame

Manuel Y. Tovar

Matthew R. Tovar

Raquel Ivonne Tovar Hernandez

Ana V. Urena

Maria G. Uribe

Nancy Magaly Valles

Daira G. Vaquera Herrera

Jazmyn N. Velarde

Bethany Joyce Vera

Tania V. Villa Gonzalez

Aubrey N. Whitman

Angel Ivon Zavala-Hernandez

Jenan Ali Ziara

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

Bachelor of Science

Civil Engineering

Anahi Aldama

Joseph Matthew Barnes

Marisol Burciaga

Alberto Caballero Jr

Ruben A. Castro-Silva

Hector Jose Chacon Polanco

Melanie Cossio

Ivan I. Esparza

Jose Fernandez

Edgar E. Flores

Alexandro Patrick Fuentes

Sergio L. Gonzalez

Zoi I. Guerra

Donnellon Patrick Guzman

Brianna Kylene Hermosillo

Alexa Herrera

Yoshio Komiyama

Ramses Leon

Raul A. Leon

Nallely Leyva

Sabine Lipe

David Lopez-Molinar

Xavier Alejandro Lujan

Jesus Guadalupe Mendoza

Alejandra Montes

Nicole Mueller

Victoria Obregon

Victor Manuel Ortega Contreras

Rocio G Ramirez Sanchez

Eleazar C. Rangel

Angel Ulises Rodriguez

Antonio Hiyel Rojero

Felix Anthony Ruedas

Gaston Salgado Armendariz

Emily Jean Solem

Gary A. Theard

Isabel Vargas

Computer Science

Ali Basim Abed Jr

Kevin Manuel Acosta

Anna Victoria Aguilar

Joel Adrian Aguirre

Madison R. Anderson

Mark-Anthony J. Avila

David Antonio Ayala

Jonathan Adam Ayala

Rafael Baez Ramirez III

David Joseph Baptiste Jr

Jesus Baylon Jr

Miguel Angel Camarillo Elizondo

Lizeth Campos

Carlos Fernando Castaneda III

Michael Castaneda

Julissa Bibianna Chacon

Lorelyne Chavez

Miguel Angel Contreras

Christian J. Cordova

Karla Sofia Cuellar

Luis David Davila

Emiliano R. De La Cruz

Edgar Del Rivero

Hugo A. Dominguez

David Eduardo Dominguez

Garcia

Jeffrey Escamilla

Leonel A. Escapita

THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO

Oswaldo Escobedo Jr

Airam Flores

Alan Gamez

David Jesus Gamez Limon

Diana Areisy Garcia

Hernan Isaac Garcia Guaderrama I

Maximiliano Liam Godfrey

Zaul Gomez

Timothy J. Gonzales

Ariath S. Gonzalez

Thomas Jacob Guinto

Jacob Hampton

Jesus Alberto Hernandez Jr

Matthew David Herrera

Sofia Elizabeth Holguin

Emiliano Islas Quinones

Luis Raul Jimenez

Garrett William Jones

Victor Adrian Juarez

Thinley Jurmi

Harmony Genesis Lara

Scott R. Ledford

Diana Licon

Justin Lim

Gregorio H. Loi

Irvin Lopez-Audetat

Jesus Macias

David E. Mares

Elizabeth Danae Martin

Valeria Martin Del Campo

Jaime Josue Martinez

Ulysses Martinez Jr

Jose Eduardo Mata Nevarez

Connor Basel Mlouhi

Hiram Morales

Kevin Joab Moreno

Giovanna Munoz

Deyanira Ochoa-Mercado

Kenneth E. Okwunwanne Jr

Roberto Ulises Orozco

Sergio Ortiz Jr

Ximena Parada

Omar Fernando Perez

Susana Perez Juarez

Miriam Teresa Ramirez

Rubi Renteria

Hector Rodrigo Richart Ruiz

Yahir Fernando Rivas

Alexis Rodriguez

John Duane Rodriguez

Natasha Rovelli

David Anthony Sanchez Jr

Diego Gerardo Sanchez

Irvin Abraham Sanchez

Roberto Sanchez Jr Jr

Micheal John Sansone

Kevin Edgar Sias

Seth Edgar Sias

Gregorio Adrian Sigala

Eric S. Smith

Alec Tellez Berkowitz

Edwin Tomy George

Edwin Horacio Trejo

Jose Reynaldo Vega Jr

Alan Verdin

Elton U. Villa

Roxxanne Felipa White

Ryan James Winkelman

Leonardo Zapata Contreras

Construction Engineering and Management

Ciria B. Palacios

Michael Anthony Salinas

Luis J. Villarreal

Electrical Engineering

Hector Abraham Acevedo Reyes

Mohammed E S Th Althuaini

Carlos Fabian Benitez

Damian Blancarte

Christian Cabrera

Alfredo Chaidez

Sasha Cobos

Ivan Samuel Contreras

Noel Cruz

Mariana De La Cruz

Hugo De La Garza Jr

Anakaren Estrada

Evelyn Fernandez

Daniel Flores

Rudy Flores Jr

Alexis Garcia

Jorge Emilio Garcia

Jesus Manuel Guillen Jr

Johnathan Harlee Hernandez

Michelle Lara

Karla Samantha Medina

Jovany Mendez

Taffitha Bessirose Miller

Rene Daniel Molina

Armando Yassir Montoya

Christopher Munoz

Johvani Nava

Alan Jesus Neal

Dalia Orozco

Irvin Abraham Ortiz

Cielo Roxann Pantoja

David Perez Gonzalez

Herman Foston Ramey III

Christian Oscar Ramirez

Kevin C. Sanchez

Jorge Orlando Sierra

Martin Tejada

Engineering Innovation and Leadership

Lya Bejarano

Andrea Jordan Bettle

Eric Alejandro Criollo Moyeda

Jesse Antonio Espinoza

Anneliese Mari Fensch

Andrea Paola Valle

Industrial and Systems Engineering

Madeline Skye Acosta Gomez

Jordan Benjamin Barclay

Eric Barragan

Sarah Flores

Zimri Julian Ibarra

Andrea B. Loya

Raul K. Montes

Javier Ramirez Elizalde

Mireya Rocha

Luis A. Salinas

Ximena Vazquez Montano

Mechanical Engineering

Lynn Alberto Acosta

Luis Alejandro Arellano Jr

Edna Valeria Armas

Anette Nayeli Baca

Hector Becerril

Brianna Danielle Betancourt

Isabel Clara Brooks

Carlos Alberto Castanon

Joel Alejandro Cepeda

David Humberto Chavez

Alberto Clift Jr

Isaac Corral

Jesus Eduardo Cruz

Jonathan Carmine Cucciniello

Maximiliano Marcos De La Rosa

Antonio Delgadillo

Alexis M. Dominguez

Omar Antonio Dominguez

Jose Esteban Estrada

Jesus Alejandro Fabian Martinez

Diana Fontes

Julio Cesar Garcia Jr

Victoria Angelica Garcia

Brian Aaron Garibay Jr Jr.

Naila Noheli Gomez

Analy Gonzalez

Damian Ivan Gonzalez

Edward Christian Gonzalez

Rodrigo Esteban Grajeda Martinez

Yahriel Isaac Guel

Alejandro Javier Hernandez

Jaime Alan Herrera

Simon Alonso Hinojosa Vega

Benjamin Jacob Krieger

Abel Leyva

Perla Alondra Leyva

Leslie Fernanda Llamas

Penelope Lopez

Eric Loya

Amauri Marin

Asahel Alberto Marinelarena Diaz

Angel L. Marquez

Adrian Martinez

Perla Michelle Martinez Ricartti

Rubi Mae Matamoros

Alejandro Arath Mena Jr

Jakob I. Mendoza

Colin Douglas Meyer

Yahir Alexis Meza

Oscar Alejandro Montes

Cesar Eduardo Moriel

Adam Julian Munoz

Joseph Matthew Munoz

Horacio Ornelas III

Gerardo Pena Jr

Julian Aleja Pena

Ethan I. Ramos

Alan Alexis Rascon

Esteban Isaac Rios

Melanie Rivera

Roberto Robles

Sergio Ivan Romero Garcia

Julian Ronquillo III

Sergio Enrique Salcido Armendariz

Edith Maria Shear

Javier Jair Sosa

George Tucker

Diego Vasallo

Emmanuel Vielma Lopez

Metallurgical and Materials Engineering

Dariana Barrios-Salas

Erwin Cazares

Daniela A. Duarte

Michael Ryan Medina

Alan Nunez

Salma Paulina Ramirez

Jose Francisco Salazar

Arturo Villegas Jr

Hector A. Zamarripa

COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES

Bachelor of Science Clinical Laboratory Science

Valeria Aguirre

Alexa Rae Alawneh

Patricia Castro

Neelam Chhetri

Yanira Cordero-Mendoza

Brenda Yvonne Depue

Denise Dominguez

Leslie Viane Fierro

Chason Marcus Fralick

Christian E. Hernandez Jr

Irene Aleja Hernandez

Lydia Esther Hernandez

Jessica Anne Jones

Danielle Kutz

Aylin Itsel Lara

Ebony Sophia Lewis

Kelsie Elizabeth Marquez

Jesse Monarrez

Janet Arlene Moncayo

Daniela Estefania Morales Sanchez

Alicia Jasmi Najar

Omar Daniel Negrete

Celeste A. Ramirez

Eduardo Romero

Suzeth Sanchez

Claudia Ivette Santiago

Karina Pamela Sierra

Health Promotion

Sophia M. Castillo

Zenia Monique Gomez-Papa

Dulce Nydia Rodriguez

Kinesiology

Ariana Mariel Abascal

Adrian Brandon Aguilar

Matthew Alarcon

Alejandro I. Almanza

Javier Sebastion Alvidrez

Raymond Anthony Amparan

Jesus R. Avila

Megan E. Beard

Samantha Borrego

Kaitlyn Nichole Bradham

Amber Michelle Butler

Kelsi B. Byrd

Zaylie Therese Calderon

Michelle Castaneda

Adrianna Gabriella Cintron

Jacob T. Cobos

Karla Ivette Corral Gasca

Tomas O. Escudero III

Marcela H. Fernandez

Melanie G. Gandara

Andres Garcia

Stefanie L. Garcia

Vashti Celestial Garcia

Miroslava Gomez Hurtado

Adelina Adrianna Gonzales

Sergio Gabriel Gonzalez Jr

Toni Alyssa Gonzalez

Andrea Sofia Hernandez

Raquel Clarisse Houston

Thomas Jacob Jimenez

Jose Daniel Junco

Claudia Lizeth Lopez

Julian Robert Lopez

Karen L. Lozoya

Aylene Macias

Daniel Enrique Marquez

Andrew Martinez

David Martinez Jr

Daisy Ruby Martinez Hernandez

Adriana Aracely Morales

Marcos Munoz

Marco Antonio Orrantia-Muela

Jordan R. Puchi

Josecarlo Ramirez Rivera

Natalia Iris Roberts

Mariana Romero

Mauro Manuel Salazar

Sasha Solis

Pablo Antonio Suarez Fortes

Lana Leigh Kamper Trautman

Cassidy Brooke Urrabazo

Anilu Vega

Myra Villarreal

Elisa Renee Young

Joshua Yuen

Public Health

Valery Iris Baca

Karina Patricia De La Paz

Gloria E. Duenas

German Hidrogo Jr

Ana-Jamileh Kassfy

Brittney Marie Lira

Yvonne Andrea Mata

Samantha Lizette Murillo Chacon

Denisse Ramirez

Desiree Rangel

Alyna Andrea Sanchez

Hope Kasandra Servian

Liza Marie Brianna Velarde

Alejandro David Velez

Rehabilitation Sciences

Khron R. Baker

Ingrid Bustamante

Marissa Danie Calderon

Patricia Camila Carballo

Jacqueline Alexandra Chavez

Edward S. Coronel

Daniella Q. Cortinas

Karen Nohemi Cortinas

Valeria Noemi Crockton

Karina Patricia De La Paz

Trinity Elisabeth Dorantes

Wesley Antonio Dunn Jr

Diane Omo Garcia-Rivas

Alan Gardea

Geanna Gomez

Lydia Cristina Granados

Michael Lexlee Greene

Isiah Hernandez

Natalia Astrid Jara

Paulina Llamas

Miranda Danielle Lucero

Roxanne Lynn Martin

Zachary Ray Melendez

Joaquin Alejandro Morales

Cassandra A. Munoz

Allison Marie Palus

Juan Angel Perez

Michael Aaron Perez

Paulina Perez Lopez

Andrea Polanco

Michelle Stephanie Portillo

Mia Sifuentes

Roberto Sealt Sosa

Halle A. Taylor

Valeria V. Valencia

Jorge Alejandro Valenzuela Fierro

Leslie J. Valle

Andrea Vasquez

Dante Velasco

The

We

College of Health Sciences is so proud of your achievements!

can't wait to see your next steps, and we want you to stay connected to us!

Thank you for helping us to build our future together!

Class of 2023

Vanessa Escareno

Nancy Catalina Velasco

Liliana Adelina Villa

Gisela Yescas

Bachelor of Social Work

Karen Abigail Aguilar

Karina Anomar Aguirre Torres

Clarissa Akle

Hubaldo Alonso

Angela Anaya

Kayla Breanne Apodaca

Joanna Arias

Edith Arreola

Rachel Rios Bailon

Zofia Banuelos

Joanna Amairani Barnes

Sarah Nicole Carbajal

Serena Brianna Cardona-Gonzales

Kaycee Kenley Carmignani

Vanessa Carrillo

Berenice Castillo

Rosa Joana Ceballos Rodriguez

Karla Contreras

Jacqueline Cortez

Isabella Loren Duran

Valerie E. Flores

Alexandria J. Garcia

Bailie Sue Gokey

Valeria Gutierrez

Cathryn M. Hernandez

Alondra Estela Hernandez Hernandez

Brianna Herrera

Sandra Ivett Hidalgo

Miguel Angel Lazalde

Jacqueline Lechuga

Valery Giselle Lopez

Rosemary C. Mares

Gabriela Esmeralda Meza

Gabriela Danielle Miranda

Viviana Mitre

Dennis Ray Moore Jr

Vanessa V. Morales

Marissa Alyse Moreno

Jasmin Ojeda

Kimberly Olvera-Girard

Victor Manuel Ortega

Tiffaney Eloisa Paiz

Paulina Pillado

Vianey Rikki Portillo

Leeroy Rico

Itzayana Rodelo

Tayde Yolanda Rodriguez

Teresa M. Serna

Elizabeth Solis Montoya

Alexis Stephens

Margaret Joen Torres

Ashley Michelle Urbina

Penelope Abigail Vega

Sarah Nicole Velez

Genevieve Lee Villa

COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS

Bachelor of Arts

Anthropology

James Richard Cole II

Deyzia Mariah Dominguez

Daniela Ramos

Delara Elizabeth Sipe

Cassandra Vargas

Art

Sara Elizabeth Borja Guardian

Ayensi Chong Torres

Austin Carlos Esparza

Cesar Alejandro Garcia

Marissa Renee Guerra

Lucas James Mackay

Miranda Merced Morales

Gabriel Rico

Franshesca Tatiana Rivera Reyes

Victoria-anne Chianti Rosales

Christopher Peter Swan

Art History

Vanessa Pauline Ciocco

Katia Juliet Rodriguez

Communication Studies

Martha Elena Alaniz

Ivan David Bernal

Hannah L. Butler

Javier Alejandro De La Hoz

Aaron Ryan Hernandez

Aileen Morales

Samantha Ann Reyes

Emilio Rios Jr

Creative Writing

Itzel Natalie Acosta

Lesley Anne Cabral

Candice Marlene Gibbs

Jonathan Joel Guerra

Mariane Gutierrez

Christian Daniel Hernandez

Vianca Lycia Hernandez

Katrina S. Jones

Jesus Humberto Sanchez

Michael Andrew Thompson

Creative Writing/Digital Media Production

Gibel Andrea Amador

Creative Writing/English & American Literature

Johanna J. Van Der Aa

Criminal Justice

Christian Acevedo

Nestor Isai Aguilera

Brianda J. Alonso

Nancy Alvarado

Alex Anaya Jr

Oscar Ricardo Armendariz Jr

Jonathan David Avila Rodriguez

Jose Daniel Ayala

Christian Joseph Barnes

Alonzo Barraza Jr

Rashad I. Beecham

Ana C. Benitez

Julian Sebastian Bernal

Vanessa Camacho

Evelyn Camarillo

Elizabeth Victoria Campos

Jessica Campos

Miguel Alejandro Carreon Jr

Emma Carrillo

Andrew Castro

Osvaldo Cervantes

Blanca D. Chairez

Luis Daniel Corona-De La Canal

Aphiniti B. Crupper

Tay Cunningham

Vanessa De Leon

Jessica De Loera

Ashley Nichole Delgado

Samantha Delgado

Antonio Devora

Michelle Erving

Thalia K. Ferrera

Isai Abraham Fierro

Sabrina Kathleen Flanagan

Enrique Julia Flores

Jorge Enriq Flores

Lorenzo David Flores

Natalie Gallegos

Rodolfo Gamez Jr

Emmy Aide Garcia

Michael Anthony Garcia

Jazmin A. Gonzalez

Rebecca Yamileth Gonzalez

Maricruz Gonzolas

Jennifer Granados

Diana S. Guerra

Teresa E. Guerrero

Luis Alejandro Gutierrez

Carshaylah Jerronique Harrison

Ailev Guadalupe Hernandez

Karen Y. Hinojosa

Wagner Ioanis

Jose Enrique Jacquez Jr

Evelyn Itzel Jara

Ryan Jimenez

Dennis Earl Johnson Jr

Karina Patricia Juarez

Melissa Katherine Lesondak

David Leyva

Jasmin Lopez

Angela Alvina Loya

Brianda A. Luna

Collin Andrew Lyle

Michelle Martinez

Oscar Montes Jr

Marlena Rose Mora

Rosa M. Morado

Bailey Ann Moreland

Genevieve Alexis Morgan

Bryana Monique Murillo

Osman A. Ochoa Torres

Phillip C. Olan

Gabriel A. Olave

Eric Ismael Orrantia

Citlali Ortega

Samantha Rae Ortiz

Raymondo Perez

Sarai Perez

Lynn Annette Picard

Jonathan Richard Placencia

Myrka Antoinette Plata-Hernandez

Destinee Ann Prado

Alexandrea N. Ramirez

Daniela I. Ramirez

Mariana Ramirez

Ana Belen Reyes

Kevin Ivan Rodriguez

Michael Razi Rodriguez

Mariela Salcedo Vega

Andrea Sanchez

Maria I. Sanchez

Natalia Nallely Sanchez Rodarte

Justin Roy James Sanders

Jeanette Sierra

Ruby Sifuentes

Anthony R. Solis

Frida Maria Teran Dozal

Jessica Torres

Natalia Trevizo

Alejandro Urbina Jr

Ivan Alejandro Valles

Joseph R. Vargas Jr

Brandon J. Welch

Cynthia Lou White

Ian Stefan White

Matthew Zarazua

Dance

Annelise De Lara

Kenia Alejandra Rodriguez

Digital Media Production

Ramon Alqueza Jr.

Alexis L. Avila

Catrina Renee Ayala

Christina Garnette Ann Bowling

Jose Ramon Camarillo III

Jasmin Nicole Campoya

Mary Elizabeth Chavez

Tashi Choden

Jose Antonio Conde

Parker Reed Cunningham

Juan Pablo De Anda De Alva

Christian Jaffe Diaz

Dario Esteban Diaz

Yudah I. Diaz

Isaiah Garcia

Diego Gutierrez

Jacquelyn Isabelle Herrera

Daniela Lopez-Martinez

Cristian Ornelas

Armando A. Ramirez Jr

Alexis Santos Hernandez

Clyde Robert Tims

Vanessa Stephanie Vela

Brianna Zubia

English

Karena Ann Delgado

Geremy Andrew Gutierrez

Cinthia Valeria Martinez

English & American

Literature

Andrea Araceli Arceo

Ivannya Vianey Belmonte

Victoria Alicia Bernal

Ana Karla Berry

Salem Trini Bidwell

Erin Nicole Cox

Anthony Jacob Diaz

Leslie Ann Flores

Jessica Gomez

Cristian Antho Guardiola

Maria Luisa Guerrero Duran

Oralee Breanna Leyva

Alain C. Martinez

Oscar Ivan Montes Ojeda

Jorge Alejandro Morales Rodriguez

Lauren Claire Perales

Rocio Esperanza Rivera

Jocelyn J. Ruiz- Rangel

French

Alexandra Rutiaga

History

Sylvia D. Altizer

Ana Isabell Beltran

Jason Alexander Cabral

Armand Francisco Chuca

Luis Alberto De Leon Tovar

Naomi Duran

Simon Gonzalez Jr

Jose Armando Jimenez Jr.

Brandon Phillip La Pointe

Jorge Lazo Jr

Javier Andres Leal

Spencer Reade Lopez

Jakob Noah Mendivil

Estela Morales

Alana Nevarez

Shelley Michelle Newell

Alexis Ariana Nunez

Raquel A. Ramirez

Sebastian A. Rosas-Mantilla

Estevan Alonzo Saenz

Abigail B. Sandoval

Michael A. Sims

Mia Iliana Solis

Jonathan C. Stoddart

Karla A. Valenzuela Garay

Joshua Venegas

Linguistics

Jordan A. Adams

Celeen Joie Atkins

Claudette Christine Chapman

Brianna Monique Duran

Laura Lisette Gonzalez

Julienne Ericka Mariscal

Christopher Joe Quintana

Karina Ramirez

Abril Rubio

Paris Salazar

Ileanna Ugarte

Ashley Marlene Vargas

Kimberly A. Vasquez

Media Advertising/ Communication

Alejandro Aguirre

Lizett Castruita

Kenneth Danneman Jr

Sophie Virginie Delfosse

Adrian Gabriel Delgado

Victoria Grace Edgin

Alexia Elizondo Huerta

Ivan J. Garcia

Carina Gonzalez

Daniel Guerrero Aguilar

Ryan Lynn Looney

Miraesia A. Mandes

Christopher P. Marquez

Daniela Mendoza

Erika Loren Reyes

Natalie Samaniego

Miguel Angel Valdiviezo

Alexis Elizabeth Vasquez

Paolo Velazquez Angeles

Media Advertising/ Communication/Art

Cassandra Dreher

Media Advertising/ Communication/Digital

Media Production

Angel Daniel Ortiz

Multimedia Journalism

Margaret Hope Cataldi

Brenda Patricia Cedillo

Elizabeth Cervantes Guzman

Erika Susana Lopez

Karen Lozano

Brandy Vanessa Ruiz

Ethan Alexander Thomas

Marcos Valdez

Katrina Villarreal

Organizational & Corporate Communication

Cosima Lopez Buettner

Stephanie Diaz

Poqui Andre Escalante

Emily Guadalupe Gomez

OF

AT EL PASO

THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO

Alfredo Mendoza Jr

Jessica Y. Montes

Annalyssa M. Moya

Isaiah Jonathan Ortiz

Elizabeth A. Pinon

Juan Carlos Rivera

Monserrat Sahagun

Jessica Salazar

Isaiah James Solis

Karina Alicia Somoza

Erick Soto

Philosophy

Ethan Rick Roski

Kimberly Zubiate

Philosophy/Creative

Writing

Jasmine Giselle Crain

Political Science

Zareth G. Alcantar

Hugo Winston Bustamante

McKayla Margaret Caruthers

Daniela Karina Cisneros

Carlos G. Fierro Jr

Luisa F. Garcia Teran

Trevon Alexander Griffin

Isaiah Noel Iturralde

Alejandro Lara

Adriana Jasmin Leon

Amoret Jo Mccartney

Jacob Alexander Molina

Samantha Morales

Angelica A. Quintanilla

Brittany Rodriguez

Frida Cristina Romero

Denise Saenz

Diana Britn Solano

Luis N. Subia

Emilia Tapia Jimenez

Lydia Natalia Torres Ayala

Brianna Iberty Trevino

Ian Levy Valdez

Ana Karen Varela

Psychology

Jocelyn Michelle Aguilar

Pablo Andres Aldrete Fiscal

Evelyn Almaraz

Bianca Amparan

Anamarie Arellano

Maria Fernanda Avila Melgar

Paris E. Bardouche

Leslie Burciaga

Jose Carlos Campos

Brianda Alicia Capistrant Jr

Melissa Chaidez

Priscilla Chairez

Carlos Chavez

Maria Fernanda Contreras

Kevin Andrew Cruz

Angeles De La Cruz

Danielle Alexis Del Hierro

Michele Marie DeRouen

Neleh Kristian Diaz

Ariadna Fernandez

Angel Garcia

Evelyn Nayeli Garcia

Bianca Sophia Gaystardo

Ashley Danielle Gaytan

Briana I. Gonzalez

Brittney Joann Grajeda

Viridiana Guevara

Myrna Paola Gutierrez Portillo

Anastasia H’Luz

Jamie Danielle Herrera

Erika Y. Highsmith

Bryce Cameron Hillhouse

Dennise Inguanzo

Hugo Sergio Juarez

Emerson F. Kidd

Mariel Alejandra Lara Garcia

Cassandra Lemus

Sebastian Lopez

Jennifer Lopez Garcia

Julie A. Luna

Alexis Marie Madrid

Gloria Guadalupe Martinez

Judith Araceli Martinez

Yvette Mendez

Gabriela Mendoza

Pamela Mendoza

Raquel Sarai Menjivar Castillo

Destinee A. Michelletti

Itzel Elena Moran

Sebastian Moriel

Brianna Murillo

Cristian Muro

Leslie Paulina Negrete

Monica Murillo Orona

Vanessa Amanda Orrantia

Reymundo Ortiz III

Jaquelin Perez

Miranda Irene Perez

Stephanie Perez

Paulina Guadalupe Porras

Alyssa Marie Ramirez

Evelyn Ramirez

Sofia Talai’itupu Regalado

Alejandra Rincon Levario

Heavyn Hersha Robertson

Andrea Rodriguez

Angelica Rodriguez

Lilian Veronica Rodriguez

Julia Marie Romero

Jasmine N. Rubio

Alyssa M. Ryan

Ezequiel Adalberto Salazar

Iyanla A. Saldierna

Adriana Salinas

Jacob Daniel Salinas

Emily R. Sanchez

Luis Carlos Sanchez

Skylar Quinn Sandoval

Aliah B. Saucedo

Arianna Isabel Solis

Cynthia I. Sustaita Gonzalez

Michelle Tavarez

Marissa Guadalupe Tepezano

Nadina Nicole Torres

Priscilla Torres

Ady P. Torres-Lopez

Daniela Anahi Valdiviezo

Diana Valenciana

Priscila S. Vela-Flores

David Alejandro Villa

Daesjah Janae Ward

Cadey D. Werner

Psychology/Art History

Diva Eunice Campos Rivera

Psychology/

Criminal Justice

Julie Anne Bejarano

Psychology/French

Cristobal Amador

Security Studies

Ramon Gardea Jr

Carlos Fernando Guerra Jr

Mark David Hanna Jr

Martin Ibarra

Steve Elias Jasso Jr

Yesenia Rosales

Theodore Jack Shrader

Sociology

Irland Yadir Breceda

Jazmin Ceballos

Yara Lizeth Delgado

Angela Michelle Martinez

Anthony Martinez

Kathia Ramirez

Samantha Renee Sanchez

Dylan Edward Diaz-Infante

Sociology/Psychology

Andres E. Avilez

Spanish

Cesar Camunez

Theatre Arts

Hallie M. Borden

Kaylee A. Salas

Christopher Jacob Stritzinger

Women’s and Gender Studies

Sophia Hannah Gomez

Applied Arts and Sciences

Isabela De la Cruz

Kaitlyn Elizabeth Stout

Bachelor of Fine Arts

Dance

Paola Daniela Alvarado-Lopez

Rebeca Angelica Chavez

Studio Art

Leslie Alejandra Alcala

Andrea M. Alvarado

Reyes Gonzalez

Noelle Renee Marquez

Serena Lizette Ornelas

Paige Hope Radun

Adrianne Ramirez

Jessica Isabel Rivera

Jessica LeAnne Smith

Chelsie Solis

Marcos Emanuel Soto

Karina Yapor

Rigo Alberto Zamarron

Theatre

Sadie M. Aiken

Daniel Chavira

Robyn Elizabeth Farley

Larry Stephan Ortiz

Theatre Arts

Carolina Caldera

Matthew P. Nunez

Elias Manuel Perales

Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies

Anais Aguirre Gutierrez

Jovan Cortez Alacar

Zaira Idelyn Alvidrez

Jazmine Ambriz

Edgar Aragon

Rain A. Arenas

Diana Ayub

Oscar Jose Baldassari-Vera

Amber Nicole Bohnaker

Lindsey Michelle Butler

Eliana Cabral

Michael Rene Calanche

Isabella Alex Candelaria

Thaizet A. Carranza

Karina Chavez

Jostein Markel Clarke

Alyssa Denise Collier

Eleazar Cordova

Roberto Covarrubias

Avery Michelle Crouse

Devon Dragan Daich

Carol L. De Avila

Perla Dorado

Christopher Edmerson

Katherine E. Elliott

Wendy Vivian Espinoza

Silvestre Silvia Estorga

Melissa K. Faulkner

Carlos Adrian Galindo

Jennifer Emily Gallardo

Victoria A. Garcia

Joel Gaytan

Genesis Marissa Gomez

Cynthia Gonzalez

Jesus Ricardo Gonzalez Jr

Martha Julissa Gonzalez

Deborah Elaine Guerrero

Aylin Gurrola

Ana Karen Hernandez

Jorge Hernandez

Luis Manuel Hernandez

Justin M. Hiatt

Steven Wayne Hubbard Jr

Trejon Jacarri Hugue

Alexis Huitzacua

Amri J. Jimenez

Rosanna Yvonne Jimenez

Danielle N. Johannes

Christian Nicholas Juarez

Tyrice Taesean Knight

Ethan Josef Leyva

Gisselle Cecilia Lopez

Kierra A. Lopez-Robinson

Maureen S. Mancuso

Joshua Medina

Ashley Marie Meisenbach

Veronica Anne Mendoza

Lilia E. Meraz

Class of 2023

Vanessa Merica

Michelle Monarrez

Dalila Corine Morales

Marla M. Morales

Lizbeth Morales Hernandez

Cecilia Moreno

Andres Najera

James Fitzgerald Neal

Joshua Robert Nehrling

Ricky Paul Olivas

Regina Ornelas

Jason Orosco Jr

Mahrianna Nicole Petree

Carlos A. Prieto

Diana Eliza Ramirez

Torey Scott Richardson

Kevon Lasha Riley

Krisylla Ruiz

Serena Jean Sanchez

Marissa A. Sleek

Norbert C. St Pierre

Cheyenne Kaitlyn Stark

Steven Thomas

Barbara Ann Toscano

Deshaun Jermaine Trotter

Candie Urbina

Ashley Kristina Semone Valerio

Julio Cesar Villa

Michael Vincent Voigt

Amber Kimberley Weldon

Malik Jadon Zachery

Jennifer Zamarripa

Zaid Oswaldo Zavala

Bachelor of Music

Commercial Music

Giamo Vincenzo Forti

Aaron Armando Garcia

Andres Rico Lopez

Fernando Rivas

Music

Kevin I. Aceituno

Venus Jean Alarcon

Jesus Ayub

Julia Crist Barrios

Patrick Anthony Caraveo

Melissa Chavira

Moises Espino

Aylin Franco

Gabriel Pedro Gonzalez

Eduardo Granados

Fabian Alexa Macias

Sebastian Nunez

Homer Misael Pardo

Christina Ramirez

Jennie Marina Wagner

Mitchel Reed Weatherly

Bachelor of Science

Psychology

Thassane Cruz Abrahim

Valeria Estefani Avitia Sosa

Rebeca Camacho

Sol Isela Corral

Oliver Alberto Day

Dhamar Delgado

Adriana Janeth Escoto

Alec Espendez

Lauren Isabel Estorga

Brandon Joseph Flaherty

Ismael Luis Gonzalez Aponte

Brenda Lizeth Hernandez

Alyssa Michelle Holguin-Golden

Genevieve Marie Jessen

Isabella Nicole Kelly

Jessika Amelia Magdaleno

Diana Jocelyn Morales Juarez

Daphne Danielle Patterson

Isaac Leonel Rojas

Zaira Rubi Ruiz

Angie Salas-Tobias

Andrea Daniela Sanudo Diaz

Abigail Tarango

Isabella S. Valera

Adam L. Wallace

COLLEGE OF NURSING

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Emma Sofia Abarca

Sydney Nicole Aguilar

Elsa Margarita Aguinaga

Luz Estela Aguirre

Ana S. Alvarado

Ngozi Adaku Amadi

Celeste Andrade

Jose Angel Apodaca

Natalia Apodaca

Griselda Stefanie Arreola

Alexis M. Arriola

Brenda Avalos

Arelis Avitia

Jacqueline Balbuena

Melissa M. Barajas

Chante Kris-Ann Buchanan-Bernard

Elida Stephanie Cabada

Jeffrey Douglas Cain

Katelynn Caldera

Crystal Calvillo

Diana Cano

America Melissa Carrera

Luis F. Carrillo Jr

Alejandra Maria Castaneda

Breanna A. Chavarin

Abigail A. Chavez

Valeria Chavez

Jamila Kondo Coats

Denise Cobbs

Sunday C. Cortez

Lauren Amy Davitt

Jennifer De Santiago

Vianey Delgadillo

Kara Elizabeth Doyle

Fanta Matta Dyfan Tucker

Astrid N. Escobedo

Stephanie Ashley Escriche

Bianca Mercedes Estrada

Esijolomi Jean Etiwe

Catherine Franco

Vince G. Gamez

Rylee Lynn Gatewood

Clayton Alejandro Giron

Marco D. Gonzalez

Lourdes Alejandra Grijalva

Sonia Grijalva

Sean J. Harris

Alyssa Marie Hernandez

Luisa F. Hernandez

Nicole M. Hernandez

Yolanda Hernandez

Tyranicia Holland

Class of 2023

Yvette Torres

Moises Jara

Paula I. Landeros

Nicole Lee Lane

Eve Law

Kayla Sage Lemus

Silvia Lerma Acosta

Liliana A. Lira Magallanes

Avianna G. Lopez

Denisse Lopez

Katie L. Marquez

Bryanna Aislyn Martinez

Justin Martinez

Persephone Eileen Martinez

Briana C. Mata

Daniela I. Mata

Bibi Sahra Mccloud

Zath Mendoza

Madea Ayodele Mensah

Valeria Demi Mirelez

Bianca Morales

Maribel Moreno

Luisa Fernanda Navarro

Vanessa Nunez

Xitlali Jailene Olivas

Savanna Michelle Opiel

Diego Ordonez

Amanda Nicole Orozco

Christopher Alexa Ortega

Isabella Miranda Ortega

Brian Phillip Patton

Mandy A. Pemberton

Ashley Veronika Perez

Alyssa Quintela

Elian Ramirez

Azalea Arianna Rincon

Rubi Rodriguez

Sophia E. Rojas Reyes

Monica Saenz

Jacqueline N. Salas

Maximiliano Sarmiento

Nayely Serna

Kareem A. Shaibi

Aubrey Frances Steward

Aubre Deon Terry

Dina Torres

Jesus Manuel Valdez

Bianca A. Valles

Juan Manuel Velasco Jr.

Ericka M. Villalba

Carlos M. Villanueva

Megan Young

Elise Mckenzie Zengerle

COLLEGE OF SCIENCE

Bachelor of Arts

Biological Sciences

Valeria Chacon

Taylor Ashton Clancy

Bachelor of Science

Biochemistry

Luis Alberto Aguilar-Trejo

Jorge Antonio Alvidrez

Anelhy Danet Ceballos

Monica De La Cruz

Jordyn Jacquleen-Elize Duplessis

Jasmine Nicole Frias

Rodrigo Andres Gonzalez-Badia

Christopher Offisong

Idalia Reyes

Laura Sofia Ronquillo Silva

Biological Sciences

Daniel Acosta

Matthew Acosta

Paulina A. Aguirre

Eduardo Anaya

Krystal Schnee Aofia

Daniel I. Archuleta

Luis F. Arias

Jonathan C. Armendariz

Emily Arreola

Karen Arzola Pereyra

Aolany Morie Avila

Paola Barrios

Sean Benoit

Andrea Betancourt

Catherine Bustillos

Sophia Maria Candelaria

Tessa Leigh Carlin

Paola Jaqueline Carrasco

Ashley Nicol Castaneda

Sabina Cerrillo

Ethan C. Chacon

Connie Chavez

Marco Antonio Chavez

Mitsy Chavez

Esther Jaquelin Contreras

Abraham Corona

Michael Cortez

Elise Ann Cotty

Amanda E. Creacy

Denise Cruz

Enrique Cruz

Jasmin Cuevas

Eve Charlotte Mary Daniels

Yannel Alexandra De Lara

Juan Carlo Delgado

Ruben D. Diaz De Leon

Zarena Marie Dominguez

Jacob Aaron Duron

Priscilla V. Eck

Krystal Paige Escalante

Vassti Escalante

Liliana Escobar

Henry Estrada

Leobardo Flores III

Paulina Flores

Sofia Flores

Elias Andres Fuentes

Anaihli Garcia

Laura Crystal Garcia

Mariana Garcia

Lesley Gaytan

Jesus A. Gonzalez

Samantha Nohely Gonzalez

Josdell Maria Guerra Ruiz

Camila Guerrero

Dalia Yesenia Hardy

Brittany Nichole Hernandez

Bryan Martin Hernandez

Enrique Hernandez

Sebastian Hincapie

Adriana Almicorami Hinojos

Christian Iturralde

Jazmin Jasso

Arlette Jimenez

Nikita Isabel Jimenez

Kaitlyn Lorraine Johnson

Amina Khamsi

Linnete Legaspy

Inaya Aris Lemus

Kimberly M. Loya

Gamble Patrick Lynch

Ana Martinez

Irene Kay Martinez

Rebecca Maynez

Saray Mendez

Vivian Mendez

Angel Nycol Mendoza

Stephanie Miranda

Luis Eduardo Montemayor-Noble

Kendra Teresa Montoya

Amber Nicole Mullins

Makala Jade Muniz

Alfonzo Esteban Munoz

Alicia Jasmi Najar

Sergio Negrete Jr

Abigail O’Hara

Shane A. Oleal Rodriguez

Miguel Marin Ordonez

Alexis Giovanny Ortega Rodriguez

Wonderful A. Oyebami

Monica Pacheco

Hector Manuel Padilla

Bianca E. Pena

Jaqueline Pena-Zacarias

Samantha Daniela Penaloza

Liza Camila Perez

Andrea Ramirez

Angel Gustavo Ramirez

Isabelle Marie Recendez

Neftali F. Reyes

Jannese Rodriguez

Olga Maria Rohrer

Paola Aracely Rojas

Michel Angelica Rojo

Lee Ann Rosario Mojica

Alysa Saenz

Clareece Monique Salguero

Jessica P. Sanchez

Yogyana Santana- Salais

Alexis Sophia Santos-Hernandez

Crystal Joanne Schilz

Mariah Scott

Jovannah Servian

Kristilyn Jeweliana Silva

Yasmine Simental

Summer Kaylee Luz Sullivan

Ariana Cristina Torres

Axel Tovar

Nathan Bruce Truman

Veronica Urquiza

Julissa Arely Valdez

Lea Raquel Valdivieso

Armando Varela III

Emily Vasquez

Fabiola Vasquez

Karen G. Vega

Jessica P. Verduzco

Ashley N. Viveros

Tenzin Wangmo

Cellular & Molecular

Biochemistry

David Fernando Gamboa Flores

Kimberly Lorena Gonzalez

Diana Evelyn Munoz

Dilean Johana Murillo Gonzalez

Vianey Quaney

Julio Humberto Rangel

Wendy Vianney Salazar

Andrew A. Sanchez

Estefania Santiesteban

Briana Soto

Edward Willi Trejo Jr

Alyah Vasquez

Chemistry

Sonam Tobgay Dema

Rosa Rebeca Favela Robledo

Sonam Lhaki

Raul S. Ramos

Miguel E. Renteria

Salvador Alejandro Valdez Jr

Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

Rio Pablo Dominguez

Lina Alexis Erives

Karina Itzel Garcia Aguirre

Jacklynn B. Gutierrez

Abigail Juarez

Celeste Molina-Mejia

Caleb Quintana Molinar

Matthew Edward Montoya

Sarah Marie Ortiz

Kaitlyne Marie Pallares

John J. Powers

Natalie Marie Rangel

Ruby Andrea Ryan

Christian Isaiah Saenz I

Sheila Ailinee Saucedo

James Smith

Stephanie Ann Trevizo

Karem S. Vidaurri

Environmental Science

Elisa Sofia Blanco

Lorian Gabriela Flores

Patrick Dylan Moran

Forensic Science

Dana Edith Arriaga

Fatima Avitia

Claudia Berenice Gil

Bridget Yareth Granados

Clarissa Legarretta

Natali Legarretta

Zenon Robert Navarrette III

Denise I. Renteria

Robert Reyes

Arlette Sabrina Ruiz

Kayla Cine Soto

Mariza Villa

Geological Sciences

Oskar Alvarez Jr

Carmel Giovanna Murillo

Mathematics

Emmanuel M. Avalos

Brianna Danielle Betancourt

Cecilia Carrera

Jose Luis Concha

Karla Daniela Delgado

Paul Richard Dessauer

Sherab Dolma

Stephen Thomas Farias

Aaron D. Frayre

Brittni Ann Lazo

Alyssa R. Martinez

Gabriela Molina

Alejandro Orozco Loera

Emi Ortiz

Derek Isaiah Perez

Zachary R. Rosalez

Microbiology

Homero Balderas

Daniel David Fernandez

Andrea Guevara

Frances Andrea Rangel

Valeria Virrueta

Christian Yu

Neuroscience

Isabella Monique Castro

Paulina Judith Chavez

Peter Anthony Fogel

Ennis Andrea Galaz

Cory Nathaniel Heaton

Adam Hernandez

Bryan Armando Hernandez

Granados

Jonathan D. Lopez

Madison Trinity Millan

Andrick Brian Perez

Jose L. Perez

Stephanie Renee Phillips

Iliana Minelli Pinal

Abigail Ramirez

Matthew Rene Rodriguez

Nathalia Berenice Rubio

Maya Solis

Dionne Trevino

Nathalie Abigail Valencia

Physics

Diana Paola Carrasco-Rojas

Hector Sebastian Fierro

Kusal Khandal

Alexis Danielle Lupo

Edith Maria Shear

Physics/Mathematics

Adrian De La Rocha Galan

WOODY L. HUNT COLLEGE OF BUSINESS

Bachelor of Arts

Economics

Aylin Garcia Jr

Bachelor of Business Administration

Accounting

Josue Adame

Tiffany Aguilar

Stephanie Marie Aguirre

Sofia Valeria Arciniega

Brandon Jacob Arellano

Pamela Alexi Beltran

Leslie Alejandra Canales

Miguel Angel Carranza

Cristina Alejandra Castro Juarez

Mario Ivan Maximiliano Cobos Becerril

Daisy Delgado

Janel Dominguez

Mariana Enriquez

Anthony N. Flores

Danielle Flores

Mariana Frausto

Gerardo Andres Galvan

Nubia Raquel Galvan

Jacqueline Garcia

Amanda N. Gomez

Marcus Anthony Huerta

Stephanie Huerta

Maika Sierra Jackson

Marcus James Lafrance

Abril Yvonn Lechuga

Christian J. Lick

Ana Sofia Licon Moriel

Carina A. Lopez

Monica Gabriela Lopez

Gustavo Luevano III

Hiram R. Maldonado

Esmeralda Maltos

Jaqueline Martinez

Jesus F. Martinez Jr

Matthew Mckinley

Fabiola Medrano

Matthew D. Monarrez

Alyssa Briana Montes

Gilberto Munoz Jr

Taegyoung Nam

Gema Nevarez

Christopher Andrew Ojeda

Karla Ferna Olmos

Sofia Natalia Perez

Brenda Pineda

Alejandra Prieto Moreno

Maite Rascon

Annesophie Raux

Alfonso Rodriguez

Raul Andre Romero

Jasmine B. Romo

Diego Armando Sanchez

Gilbert Sanchez II

Itzel D. Sandoval

Aaron S. Sepulveda

Babette Christine Sepulveda

Samantha I. Servin

Karen Alessa Solano Hernandez

Alejandra Sotelo

Jacob William Thyfault

Diana Cristina Tovar

Dechen Wangmo

Economics

Karla Armenta

Jorge Luis Casanova Jr

Sejal Chhetri

Abigail D. Dominguez

Maria Ferna Hernandez

Irene Donaji Ibarra

Nathan Richard Mayotte

Rebekah Mei Plaza

Eduardo Rodriguez

Nidup Yeshi

Roosa E. Yloenen

Finance

Itzel Nayelli Aburto

Emma Birdie Byrd

Joshua Castillo

Luis Fernando Castillo Villalba

Christian Castro

Marco A. Chavez

Stephanie Cisneros-Flores

Valerie De La Cruz

Yvonne Delgado Alaves

Daniel Jonathan Dragland

Alma Escalera

Carolina Alexa Escobar

Manuel A. Espinoza

Amanda Estrada

Paula E. Fernandez

Jonathan Alexa Flores

Daniela Garcia

Abigail Lucero Guillen

Misael Hernandez

Enrique Hernandez-Rios

Jazmin Iliana Jayme

Luis E. Jimenez

Lillian Janell Leyva

Ashley Genesis Lopez

Briana A. Lopez

Alejandro Madrid

Andres Arturo Marquez

Jose Andres Martan

Jacobo Martin

Francisco Javier Martinez

Sofia Maynez

Christian D. Mendoza

Jose Carlos Moran Angeles

Victor Manuel Moron

Erick I. Narvaiz

Eileen O. O’Connor

Raquel Orozco-Saenz

Birzavit Ortiz

Jaime Ovalle Jr

Fernando Pacheco Jr

Jorge Arturo Perez Lopez

Julian Marc Ramirez

Ismael Eduardo Rascon

Beyonce Anahy Rivera

Kaylene Rubal

Santiago A. Ruiz

Isaias David Salas

Gabriela Saldana Perez

Girard Edward Sanchez Jr

Areli Sofia Serrano

Joshua David Staatz

Viviana Nicole Tarango

Georgiana Terrazas

Alondra Stark Uribe

Maximiliano Vega

Jose F. Vizcarra Ramirez

Finance/Computer Information Systems

Irvinng Elihu Rascon

General Business

Diana Antunez

Desiree Hernandez

Ricardo Melendez

Gabriela Rodriguez Sosa

Gilberto Tovar

Information Systems

Margo Carolina Amezcua

Arnold Ceballos

Nadja Nicole Contreras Muller

Caleb James Cossio

Moselle Juliette De Los Santos

Cuauhtemoc Emiliano Estrada

Adrian Martinez

Litzy Jasmine Melo

Alexa Marissa Oaxaca

Dennis Gabriel Preciado

Alyssa Sarai Quesada

Hector Armando Yanez Jr

International Business

Carlos Ivan Alvarez Leal

Fernanda Carrasco

Aydee D. Carrillo

Carely Chairez

Diana Patricia Contreras

Zuri Gynovel Henry

Angie Vianey Jauregui Galaviz

Ingrid Medina

Daniel A. Morales

Raquel Moreno

Andrea Perez Gutierrez

Dariela Ramirez-Guzman

Jonathan Rocha

Lesly Yoana Salas Reyes Jr

Management

Angelica Acosta Llamas

Christian Aguayo II

Eliana Beatriz Arellano

Hugo Ivan Armendariz

Destiny Armijo

Angela Baca-Rios

Justin David Barrientes

Jennifer Benavides

Andrea Lizet Betancourt

Jazmin Alejandra Castro Silva

Daniel Rigob Chavez

Amaris L. Enriquez

Yamileth Valverde Escarcega

Ariana Estrada

Ramiro Estrada Jr

April Marie Fang

Sebastian David Forti

Nataly Ximena Frayre Granados

Ariadne Garcia

Karen Arlett Garcia Sanchez

Jacqueline Renee Gonzalez

Shuy-Shen Gonzalez

Psalm Great Guerra

Gavin Glen Hardison

Victoria Daniela Hernandez

Andrew Joseph Jurado

Victoria Elaine Lopez

Armando Martin Del Campo Jr

Freida Lizeth Martinez

Keila Daniela Melendez

Marianna Mendez

Manuel E. Moreno III

Eros Ramses Munoz Martinez

Anshly Carina Nevarez

Alondra Olivares

Andrea Elizabeth Ostos

Mendoza

Alberto Ariel Pedraza

Diana G. Reyes

Emmanuel Rodriguez

Michelle Alexis Rodriguez

Donovan Salas

David A. Saldivar

Alejandro J. Tellez

Emma Andrea Valdivia

Kevin Eduardo Vaquera-Gutierrez

Christina Vasquez

Johaly Vega

Clarissa Andre Velazquez

Stephanie I. Villa

Marketing

Talal M A A N Almutairi

Sebastian Martin Alonso

Ashley Rocio Alvarado Carreno

Frank Ambriz Jr

Andrew Isaiah Arellano

Irma Lidia Ayala Agiz

Leticia Beltran

Brisa Natalia Borunda

Phillip Thomas Bracamontes

Nadia Gisel Bugarini

Allen Joseph Cutcher

Cynthia Ivette Fierro

Irlanda Estefany Gamboa Reyes

Noah Antonio Guerrero

Vanessa Hernandez

Marcus J. Khaw

Josue Mares Jr

Isis Daena Medrano Caballero

Lucero Melendez-Murillo

Carlos Enrique Mora Jr

Grecia Valeria Morales Alarcon

Kyle Stephen Norman

Daniel Abraham Palma

Zinnia Paulina Quintero

Pablo D. Raya

Job Saucedo

Jacqueline Astrid Stevens

Karma Tobgay

Alexa Trillo Cruger

Jacob B. Trim

Mario Alberto Valenzuela

Esteban Vasquez

Tanya Veliz

Joseph Daniel Woodward

Joshua C. Ybarra

Ulises Yu

Luis Arturo Zamora Gutierrez

Desiree Angel Zubia

Operations & Supply

Chain Management

Sergio Antonio Aldrete-Espejo

Mikhail Atayde

Alexandro Ayala

Abraham Guevara Davalos

Claudia Rose Jimenez

Jazmin Cecilia Meza

Yusuf Abdule Mohamud

Louis Fernando Naves

Marijose Ortiz Aub Ochoa

Frida Naomi Paez

Carlos Aaron Ruiz

Phenix Eduardo Saucedo

Dakota A. Wilson

THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO Class of

Arts & Culture

‘Gathering for Water’: Bringing life to the community

Meagan Garcia, editor

UTEP held a two-week dance festival celebrating earth’s most fundamental element, leaving its audience captivated by the beauty of the performances and message.

Gathering for Water, a dance festival put together by Rio Bosque Wetlands Park, Friends of the Rio Bosque and the Fine Arts Department at UTEP.

It is a body of work that highlights the importance of water and the impact it has on our planet’s health and survival.

The festival offered various events for people to see such as pop-up water dances, an art exhibition and more. The festival continued

to honor this resource at a dance show called “Our secrets as we shed them, Experiencing the Bosque reimagined.”

A walk-through experience moves its audience through a magical surrealistic world inspired by Rio Bosque Wetlands Park, divided into four sections containing separate stories, leaving viewers mesmerized by the dancers.

Building headpieces and ushering for the show, UTEP student Lee Nixon was in awe of the show’s narration and the dancers.

“I loved the bird section and getting to build those headpieces and then seeing how magical the dancers looked in the space was really gratifying,” Nixon said. “I was in awe for most of the narration and the serene music really brings you

into the space of all the creatures and plants in the Bosque only to have that disrupted by the trash and pollution people have brought, it’s almost distressing how it hits you.”

Each section of the Bosque is explored, starting with grasslands, oceans and wetlands and finishing in the freezing Arctic.

Audience members get to explore the relationship between animals and plants as they navigate through trash in each section.

Playing as a bird, Nelissa Vera believes the meaning behind the play is important and encourages people to attend the show since it is an entirely new experience.

“People should come to the show because it is something new here in our department, something that has never been done before,” Vera

KEEP

said. “The meaning of our show is really important cause it’s about nature and how trash can destroy the environment and the animals are impacted by that.”

As the show ends, viewers meet the ghost of the Bosque played by Simmone Velazquez, a section of the show that symbolizes how trash and pollution impact Bosques, destroying animals and planets.

Having two roles for the water dance festival, Velazquez felt playing the ghost of Bosque was the easiest to connect with.

“Playing the first role was really personal to me because I love nature, so it was very easy for me to connect into the role I was trying to portray, I believe in all of these energies, so it was easy to embody this ghost of the Bosque,” Velazquez

said. “The second role was a little bit hard because I am portraying a Victorian dancer who is very abstract and is powerful, so it was difficult for me to portray that.”

It is important to remember how vital it is to protect our water so that it remains healthy.

According to an article from The Texas Tribune earlier this month, Texas has the fifth-highest rate of lead in water pipes, which can be cause for all sorts of negative health and environment effects.

So, while this festival celebrates this element, it can also be a wake-up call to protect our water systems and environment, so future generations can celebrate it like we do today.

Erik Acosta is a staff reporter and may be reached at emacosta6@miners.utep.edu

Dancer performs for those in attendance of “Our secrets as we shed them: Experiencing the Bosque reimagined” on April 20.

Photo by Joel Molina/The Prospector

The borderland’s wrestling roots branch out

Editor’s note: This is the second partofathree-partseries.

At the heart of the ring, a young El Pasoan luchadora has grown to love the sport and has become a well-known figure in the wrestling world. La ruda, Persephone, formerly known as Black Widow, is a 21-year-old UTEP graduate who has been wrestling for eight years and has recently signed with Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide, Mexico’s top wrestling league.

Persephone, whose real name remains anonymous, graduated from UTEP in May 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology with a concentration in clinical exercise.

In lucha libre, wrestlers fall into two categories, rudos or técnicos. Rudos are those who have a tyrannical role, they are the “mean” guys of the ring. Being a técnico means that you go by the rules and are loyal to your team. Persephone, with her original character Black Widow, started lucha libre in the rudos team in her early teens. Despite her being the only luchadora in her family, her love for sports, especially for lucha libre, was impressed on her at a very young age, making her interested in becoming a professional luchadora.

“I started because I really liked it since I was little,” Persephone said. “My whole family is into it so they would take me to lucha shows in El Paso and Ciudad Juárez.

My dad put me into a lot of sports growing up, so I thought it was just another sport to try. I really liked it, I (stuck) with it, I started like maybe eight years ago, training, and I’m still here.”

With the support of her parents, Persephone was able to make a name for herself, while still grow-

ing up like a normal teenager. Like any regular teenager, the attention her parents were giving her seemed overwhelming, but now looking back she appreciates all the efforts made by them and cherishes the memories they made together.

“I started really young, I debuted in front of a crowd at 15, when I started traveling, I was maybe 17, so my parents were a little protective and worried,” Persephone said.

“One of my favorite memories is how much they would travel with me, it was always fun going to shows with them, seeing them out there, hanging out with them. Cause now that I’m here in Mexico, and I travel so much more on a professional level they obviously don’t really travel with me anymore, they’re at home.”

As a student,

Persephone found the perfect way to combine sports with her higher education and passion in sports medicine, by finding a degree that would allow her to be familiar with injuries from first-hand experience and put her knowledge to use in the ring and in other sports as well.

“I love that my major and wrestling connect so well, because I worked in a physical therapy clinical, I worked in different athletic training rooms,” Persephone said.

“So, literally my job as a student and I guess my ‘normal’ career was taking care of athletes. It translates perfectly cause when I get hurt, my husband gets hurt or even when I was in Juárez, other wrestlers they would get hurt and I already knew what to do.”

Being a student at UTEP is different than any other college experience because it is a commuter school. The unique location of the university invites students from all

over the city and across the border to go on really long drives to get an education, Persephone is no exception. On top of being a border commuter, she had to balance her two lives and busy schedules.

“It was really hard,” Persephone said. “Especially because I wanted to finish a little quickly, so I started taking from 15 to 18 hours a semester. I was trying to train, go to the gym, and I lived in Juarez, that made it worse. Having to cross really early, like two hours early, that was not fun. I have a lot of memories, even wrestlers already knew it was normal for me to have my computer and do an assignment in a locker room or when I was getting ready to wrestle. I was trying to get assignments done in airports, it was really hectic.”

Despite her years in college being extremely demanding, la ruda enjoyed her time in El Paso and the borderland’s essence and influence in lucha libre.

“I loved it, the crowd is just so loving,” Persephone said. “Now that I moved to Mexico City, and I’m signed to a big company so I’m a little more known now, I still feel the same love when I go back home. Even if you keep growing and you move out you still feel that love from Juarez and El Paso. Like when I first signed to triple A, I got so many messages from people from Juarez and El Paso, like ‘Esa es nuestra fronteriza.’ You just feel the support from the frontera, no matter where you go.” Persephone will come to El Paso, for the show “Collateral Damage,” 7 p.m., May 12, at the Delgado Legacy Borderplex.

Clue Killer Portfolio: A twist to graphic design

Murder mystery art covers the glass gallery showcasing the graphics of talented UTEP senior artists.

The senior lecture is holding its annual end-of-semester gallery, “Clue Killer Portfolio Exhibit,” to showcase all designs made this semester. The audience will solve the murder mystery through the student’s designs.

Distinguished professor Clive Cochran lectures Graphic Design 9, a senior portfolio class.

The idea of an end-of-semester exhibition was pitched by Professor Jean Julio in 2009.

This was an opportunity to view their students’ progress and provide

helpful feedback.

“We look at the work in the student show, we can see where students are doing well and perhaps where they need to improve a little bit,” Cochran said. “The students always put up their best work, and the shows have been pretty successful.”

Every exhibition is run by the students in the graphic design class. Each student is responsible for working with one another and coming up with a theme, what art they are going to showcase, how the gallery will look, catering and even the dates the show will open, including reception day.

“It’s a complete mystery to me what they’re going to do because again, the students are responsible for doing this,” Cochran

said. “Now, very often they throw ideas by me, they ask for a certain amount of help in putting everything together and I can provide advice, but they decide how the show is going to be hung.”

Senior Jes Rivera, a double major in graphic design and metals, is one of the many students taking Cochran’s class.

“We’ve had a pretty easy time, mostly because a lot of us have very similar mindsets and can kind of bounce ideas off of each other pretty quickly,” Rivera said.

The student-run show takes many hours of their day to prepare for the exhibit. Many of the students are going to showcase their packaging, posters and other elements related to the popular board game Clue. Austin Esparza, a senior in graphic

design is the one who has taken charge by helping guide his classmates through this process.

“It’s been lots of fun, but it’s been a lot of work,” Esparza said. “We started back in the beginning of the semester, and we cemented a theme and whatnot, but just trying to get kind of little nuances together to make it seem collective and put together, it’s a lot of work.”

Senior graphic design student Alyssa Robles shared her experience throughout the semester.

“It’s been pretty stressful, but it’s been a long time coming with all the work that we’ve been doing throughout our career and learning graphic design, it’s family coming to like an end,” Robles said.

The journey has not ended just yet as these students will be meeting

May 30 to set up the whole exhibit.

The Clue Killer Portfolio Exhibit reception will officially open May 1 through May 12 in the Glass Gallery. At 6:30 p.m., May 8, students will host the reception where attendees will be given a Clue game sheet where they will be able to solve the murder mystery with the stories provided by the student’s artwork. Many of these guests are artists who want to network with the students and offer multiple different job opportunities.

Make sure to join in on the fun and solve the murder mystery. For more information about the exhibit, visit the Instagram @utep_doart.

Avery Escamilla-Wendell is the staff reporter and may be reached at amescamilla@minets.utep.edu or on Instagram @by_avery_escamilla.

Maria L. Guerrero Duran is the web and copy editor and may be reached at mlguerrerod@miners.utep. edu; @bymariaguerrero on Instagram.

Photo courtesy of Persephone

The nal curtain call for UTEP grads

late high school theatre teacher

In the late 1940s, if a UTEP student needed to blow off some steam, chances are they would be told to head straight toward the Union Ballroom. The goal was to create a special space of vibrance to encompass a fun social spirit to benefit both students and faculty of the university. Soon, the ballroom was converted into the UTEP Dinner Theatre, where it serves as a rich theatre program to students to this day. This helped the Theatre Program blossom into a useful tool for aspiring performers in front and behind the stage.

Carolina Caldera, a soon to be UTEP graduate studying theatre is someone who knows this well, as she has worked both on and behind the stage. As a young fan of musicals, Caldera knew this was the field for her.

“I have always been a fan of musicals since I was six years old (specifically ‘The Phantom of the Opera: the 25th Anniversary edition’), but when I was in high school, I decided to pursue theatre,” Caldera said.

Caldera soon did her first high school play, finding joy in how theatre made life more interesting in her eyes, everyday being different during a new run of a show. Although Caldera had acting ambi-

tions, she started out behind the scenes at The Wise Family Theatre, working on sets.

“Even though I was not performing at the time, this experience helped me as an actor,” Caldera said. “I realized how much work goes into creating the space for an actor, how that ties up with the story that the actor creates with (their) character.”

Caldera went on countless auditions, never giving up on her dream and after much hard work, she has done three shows at the Dinner Theatre, including “The Full Monty.” Caldera expects to continue the arts in El Paso to gain more

experience and encourages aspiring theatre students to get experience now while you can. Some students who have thrived in the theatre space have done so by accident, later connecting to the community. This is the case for one upcoming UTEP theatre graduates and San Antonio native Elias Perales.

It was eighth grade when Perales accidentally stumbled into his school’s theatre class instead of his scheduled one, resulting in a great mistake. After that day, Perales continued theatre, throughout high school, excelling in the advanced theatre classes. Perales credits his

Jenifer Frederick as the jumping point to pursue theatre in college. “She was an amazing teacher, she really brought me up and made me more confident in myself,” Perales said. “She passed my sophomore year of high school, and that was when I thought I wanted to pursue theatre. She made me realize how collaborative, caring and open it is to be a part of theatre, everybody working together to create something for audiences to watch and think about was one of the main reasons I decided to pursue theatre in college.”

Soon Elias came to UTEP from San Antonio, finding an appreciation in UTEP’s Theatre Program and later becoming a key figure in it. One of Perales’ favorite memories was working on the show “Borderline - A Southwest Premiere Ghost Story” by Andrew Sianez-De La O.

“Our director Kim had been talking to him for about two years and stayed in contact with him,” Perales said. “When we ended up doing it, we got to really improvise, be collaborative with the script instead of just normally doing what the script is telling you, expanding on what was already there.”

Perales hopes to pursue graduate school and encourages aspiring performers to not limit themselves.

Matthew Nunez is a theatre stu-

dent set to graduate this May who has found his calling in the arts later in his academic career.

Nunez tried theater his senior year of high school but went on to pursue many fields from philosophy to English. It was not until the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, that Nunez took his shot with theatre at UTEP.

“It was in 2020, in COVID when everything shut down and I did an assessment on myself. I’m not happy pursuing these (previous majors) and it is best I go back to something that I love, theatre,” Nunez said.

With two musicals igniting his spark, one being “Shrek, the Musical,” Nunez enrolled in the program, never looking back. Nunez credits the community aspect as one of the many reasons for his love of the program.

“Every time I am able to do a show, first rehearsals, the first reading of the script, whether or not I’m tired, whether or not I’m going through something in life; it always reminds me I did something right,” Nunez said.

Similar to a lot of other students, COVID-19 made these Theatre Art students push a hard reset button in their lives, and now they have found their passion and purpose.

H. Catching Marginot is a contributor and may be reached at hcmarginot@miners.utep.edu.

Jasmin Campoya Digital Media Production Photographer, The Prospector Photo Editor, Minero Magazine

Maria L. Guerrero Duran English and American Literature Web/Copy Editor, The Prospector Editor-in-Chief, Minero Magazine

Brandy Vanessa Ruiz Multimedia Journalism Former Editor-in-Chief, Minero Magazine

Ethan Thomas Multimedia Journalism Writer/Photographer, Minero Magazine

Katrina Villarreal Multimedia Journalism Sports Reporter/ Multimedia Editor, The Prospector

UTEP Theatre graduate and San Antonio native Elias Perales has worked on plays such “Borderline - A Southwest Premier Ghost Story” and plans to pursue graduate school. Photo by Annabella Mireles/The Prospector

The Full Monty brings a full house

Building a life around a passion for photos

With the semester winding down, the UTEP Dinner Theatre decided to end its 40th anniversary with a bang, performing “The Full Monty.” With a packed opening night, the award-winning musical opened April 21, filling the air with laughter and cheers.

Based on the Academy Awardnominated film, the musical offers its audience a journey exploring friendship and self-respect with its famous score and dance sequences to ensure a grand old time.

The story takes place in the late ‘90s in Buffalo, New York and centers around a group of friends, one of them, Jerry (John Levick), is looking for money so he can pay for child support to see his son. He soon comes up with an idea to start a strip tease act with the help of his buddy Dave (Zaid Ricarte).

Soon Jerry and Dave find four other men as well as his former boss to join his group; Malcom (Angel Rodriguez), Horse (Allen Thompson), Ethan (Ulises Cordova) and Harold (Freddie Nevarez).

Together these men dance and strip their way into the audiences’ hearts, leaving them wanting more.

With the show’s closing number around the corner, the strip tease

act took center stage to perform their number, entertaining the audience with laughs and ending the show on a high note.

An El Paso native, Anna Rodarte, went to see the show with her mom and considers the experience to be worthwhile.

“I thought it was such a great show, it was really well produced, and it looked very well-rehearsed,” Rodarte said. “My favorite part of the show was all the musicals, I am a big fan of musicals, so it was great to see it live, and I would come see it again just to get the same experience. I feel like if you watch this show over and over again, it would be funny as the first time.”

Other characters to mention are Georgie (Chole Curtis), Pam (Elise M. Herndon), Vicki (Keri Baggs), Jeanette (Carol Viescas) and Nathan (Kal Spencer) who all had standout performances throughout the show.

As the last few performances start to wind down, one special star, Zaid Ricarte, who plays Dave, enjoys every moment on stage as he will be graduating soon and will leave a place he considers home.

Joining the UTEP Dinner Theatre in 2017 during its 35th anniversary, Ricarte always wanted to perform. Since then, his dreams have come full circle as he performed in every

show that the Dinner Theatre has put on.

“I always loved performing, ever since I was little, I have a memory of having a little karaoke machine that I used to use a lot,” Ricarte said. “When I found out about auditions in 2017 for the Addams family here at the Dinner Theatre, I was like ‘I have to do this,’ and ever since then I been lucky enough to do almost every show.” Ricarte feels the happiest when he is on stage and recalls the excitement of seeing an audience smile or laugh throughout his performances as one of the most rewarding moments for him.

“This show really gave me an excitement and a security in myself that I don’t think I have ever found before, and I think performing just makes me really happy and excited,” Ricarte said. “And sometimes when I look out in the audience during the finale or bows, it really makes my heart happy and warm to see people really enjoying the show.”

With this show being his graduating performance as a UTEP student, Ricarte still has plans to continue acting in hopes of doing it professionally, as he considers his dinner theatre experience the most rewarding thing he has done.

“I am excited mostly for the future and what’s to come, I have also

become very emotional ever since we started this rehearsal process and doing things for the last time as a student, and I owe a lot of myself and training to the UTEP Dinner Theatre,” Ricarte said. “This show, role and anniversary has been a very full circle moment for me, it has been rewarding and I’m excited to come back so I can give back to this place that has taught me so much.”

As closing night approaches, Ricarte will always cherish his experience and the friendships he has made here. He considers Gregory Taylor, Beverly Kerbs-Ward, and Jaime Barba as professors who have impacted him and his learning.

“I owe a lot to myself and who I am to this place, to my teachers and I think a lot of my college identity and experience was fermented here, I created so many friendships here,” Ricarte said. “So, on closing night, I think I’m going to feel sad just because it has been a big part of my life over these past years, but I am excited on what’s to come.”

The Full Monty still has a couple of shows remaining, so take a friend or a family member and do not miss out on this musical which will close May 7. For more information about tickets and hours, visit the UTEP Dinner Theatre website.

Erik Acosta is a staff reporter and may be reached at emacosta6@miners.utep.edu

Graduation season has arrived, which means many students are preparing to show off their brand-new caps and gowns to the world. Like any important occasion, graduation is one that requires kept memories. That said, photographers are being booked by the dozen, including some of UTEP’s student photographers. While they finish up their exams and team projects, they are also booked to capture the journey of future graduates.

Not all photographers at UTEP are studying photography. From computer science to theatre majors, anyone who has an eye for the perfect picture can have a passion for photography.

“I’ve gotten more bookings. Since we have a lot of actors graduating from the Department of Theater and Dance, we have a lot of headshots for grad schools that need to be taken,” said Fern Trousdale, a theatre education junior at UTEP. “When it came to photography, I found a lot of joy in taking pictures of other people because sometimes you can’t always remember the memories that may have happened. Since I do theater, one of their biggest things is capturing what’s on stage.”

While the photographers are the professionals behind the camera, they are also the students learning from their professors. Being a student, especially fulltime, can mean more work from school and business. Despite the amount of work these students are put through, many find ways to follow up with their clients, and plan on doing more projects in the future.

“I have done one graduation shoot and I’m trying to get more. I do have another graduation shoot, but it’s for a high schooler,” said Christian Solis, a student creative assistant (for) UTEP Athletics. “I think if I post more, I’ll start getting more work. I know what it takes to do those shoots, so if I did have more, I’m pretty sure I would be more filled up with my schedule.”

While independent student photographers have total control over their business, what about small student photography businesses? While academic...

“The Full Monty” is showing at the UTEP Dinner Theatre from April 21 to May 7. Photo by SalmaPaola Baca/The Prospector

“The Full Monty” centers around a friend group who start a strip tease act to earn money. Photo by SalmaPaola Baca/The Prospector

Sports

Senior spotlight: Isabel Brooks Chihuahuas’ mixed start to season

This spring has brought back the offerings fans love from jumbo hot dogs to colorful in-game fireworks, and if you are a fan in the El Paso community, then you are more familiar with The El Paso Chihuahuas baseball team.

The team has played 25 games in April, five of which were against the Salt Lake Bees. So far, the Chihuahuas have won seven games and lost 14, with an average of eight games behind. Among the teams listed in the league, the Chihuahuas have the lowest winning percentage rate of .333 percent.

Rainier Galaviz, a first-year student studying digital media production, works at the Chihuahuas Stadium.

BY KATRINA VILLARREAL The Prospector

Rifle team member Isabel Brooks is originally from Houston, Texas and decided to attend UTEP for the rifle team. Brooks is a senior mechanical engineering major and will be graduating this spring and has been named apart of the Top 10 Senior in that department. Brooks plans to continue with the rifle team for another year as she plans to pursue a master’s degree in electrical engineering at UTEP. Brooks got her start in rifle through a 4-H club in Houston when she was a junior in high school. Brooks has been doing rifle

for almost seven years now. Brooks says she was able to visit UTEP on an unofficial visit for rifle where, at the same time, she was able to see the mechanical engineering department and all it had to offer.

“(I) was super happy with the program and very excited about the chance to get to shoot in college and be a student athlete,” Brooks said.

For Brooks doing rifle was love at first sight. There is no other sport she sees herself playing, Brooks says her favorite thing about rifle is that it is repetitive and relaxing allowing one to let go and go with the flow, while still applying some control. When it comes to rifle, Brooks is

inspired by her parents because they introduced her to the sport.

“You’re just trying to do the same thing over and over again and replicate the same picture, the same weight distribution in your model,” Brooks said. “They’re always who I go to when something is happening or going on that I need help with.”

Brooks earned Conference USA (C-USA) Commissioner’s Academic honors and the C-USA Commissioner’s Academic honor roll for 2020, 2021 and 2022. During her junior year, Brooks led the team seven times in smallbore and six times in air rifle and registered the highest aggregate score in seven matches. Brooks shot a personal best 587 in air rifle at the National Collegiate Athletic Association qualifier in Alaska. That same year, Brooks posted a career-high 1167 aggregate twice.

Being a part of the UTEP rifle team has meant a lot to Brooks. She says that it was what brought her to El Paso, and it has been her home away from home while in school.

Balancing school and college athletics is difficult at times, Brooks says it is okay if everything is not perfectly balanced.

“(The team) gave me a support system 800 miles away from home and it’s helped me come into my own a little bit and find my own groove and my friends and my family,” Brooks said. “It takes a lot of falling on your face to figure out what works for you, because what works for me isn’t gonna work for the next person. You have to decide how organized you need things to be to get things to work and how

rigid your schedule needs to be. It mostly just comes down to deciding what you want to get out of things, to balance everything.”

COVID-19 was a tough challenge, Brooks says her most memorable moment with the rifle team was the first matches of the year where they were able to have fans at the range to cheer them on after the pandemic. Being able to have her family and friends cheer them on was a great experience.

There are days when life gets hard. Brooks says that on the days where she feels unmotivated, she takes the time to rest and make a list of everything she needs to get done right then and there.

“Everything else besides that just gets put aside to a later date and I just try to rest and be nice to myself because you can’t always operate at 100 percent all the time,” Brooks said.

Once Brooks graduates from UTEP with her master’s degree, she wants to give back and help support her community.

“I’m looking at going into power generation and I feel like, that’s a really good way to help provide for the community and all of those around me and try to help in little ways,” Brooks said.

Brooks ended the interview with a message to her teammates.

“Thank you for all of your help, support and love, it has definitely made it a very memorable 4 years and I’m looking forward to another year with some new faces,” Brooks said.

“We’ve had two home games so far, the next one is next Tuesday, and I think the season is going well,” Galaviz said. “Some losses here and there but few to worry about, we had Tatis Jr. also known as ‘El Nino,’ a player who plays for the Padres in the MLB (Major League Baseball).”

Tatis, nicknamed “El Niño,” has been a star player for the Chihuahuas, hitting seven home runs and 17 hits in total for his eight games played. Tatis was relegated to the Chihuahuas after an injury that took place in his time with the MLB’s San Diego Padres. Luis Liberto has appeared in the most games this season at 21 games. Liberto has had nine runs, 17 hits at bat, and one home run. The team’s best performance was their match against the Sugar Land Space Cowboys on March 31. With a score of 14 to 3 in the end, the team was 3-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning, soon coming back with 13 runs, lead-off hitter Mattew Batten touched base four times to secure the win for the Chihuahuas.

Iziah Salas, a mechanical engineering student at UTEP, describes himself as a lifelong Chihuahuas fan.

“I loved the promotions when Tatis was there, it is amazing to have MLB superstars here in front of us in El Paso.”

With a popular 2022 season El Paso Chihuahuas fans are still excited to see how this current season plays out. Having started out with a bang but going up and down with wins and losses since then, fans still are curious where the season may end up. Fans’ support for the sport and the team may lead the team into the positive direction.

Emmanuel Rivas Valenzuela ,

H. Catching Marginot is a contributor and may be reached at hcmarginot@miners.utep.edu.

Isabel Brooks, UTEP Rifle Team member and mechanical engineering major, will be graduating in spring 2023.

Photo by Joel Molina/The Prospector

Brooks was a part of the Conference USA Commissioner’s Academic Medalist and Honor Roll since 2020. Photo by Joel Molina/The Prospector

Dance team ends season at the top

PROSPECTOR STAFF REPORT

The Prospector

The UTEP Dance team placed first at the National Dance Alliance (NDA) D1-A Spirit Rally National Championship Friday, April 7, in Daytona Beach, Florida.

The NDA has been in place since 1976 and has facilitated competitions from elementary cheer groups to collegiate championships. The group also contributes to charities like the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Generation Spirit, formerly The Sparkle Effect.

The team, who performs across various campus and athletic events, headed to Daytona, Florida. The team competed in the competition’s semifinals round Wednesday, April 5 and were allowed to continue the following day for the finals round. Both performances clocked in at two minutes and twenty-six seconds. The performances can be viewed on Varsity TV through a premium subscription.

UTEP celebrated the dance champions April 13 at Cenntenial Plaza. The team was joined by Cheer Coach Leslie Lopez and the

What about the women’s 2022 basketball season?

BY NICHOLAS MAES The Prospector

The 2022-23 women’s basketball season proved to be an eventful one as the Miners beat a ranked opponent for the first time in 25 years and only the second time in program history. The women began their season with a five-game winning streak, only getting stumped by Sacramento State (14-18, Big Sky 7-11) just two weeks into the season.

The Miners also took on New Mexico State (18-17, WAC 10-8) twice on Nov. 30 and Dec. 13, 2022 two weeks apart and came out on top for both games. In between these two games, the team did take a loss to the Air Force Academy in a three-point affair.

Although the Miners ended 2022 with a New Year’s Eve loss to Rice (23-9, C-USA 13-7), the Miners entered the New Year with a win against Louisiana Tech (19-13, CUSA 12-8). The Miners would then go on to defeat the Charlotte 49ers (12-19, C-USA 7-13) by an eightpoint margin. One of the tighter games of the season was against the Florida International University (FIU) Panthers (14-19, C-USA 7-13), as the Miners only lost by two points.

Following a one-point win against Florida Atlantic (12-18, C-USA 5-15) and a two-point loss against Western Kentucky (19-14, C-USA 14-6), UTEP faced off against

Middle Tennessee (28-5, C-USA 18-2). The UTEP women pulled off an upset against the 21-ranked Blue Raiders, winning by a razor sharp margin of three points.

Following the historic win, the Miners took another two-point loss against Western Kentucky but pulled off wins against both Charlotte and the University of Texas at San Antonio (13-19, C-USA 9-11).

Middle Tennessee dealt the Miners a difficult four-point loss in their final game of the regular season.

The C-USA Tournament provided a strong start for the Miners, with a ten-point win against LA Tech, but ended with a heart wrenching six-point loss against Middle Tennessee. The National Invitation Tournament stint was cut short when the Miners took a 13-point loss against the Texas Tech Raiders (20-15, C-USA 6-12).

The women proved to be a strong team during the 2022-23 season.

With a 12-8 standing in C-USA, the Miners gained more than they lost. The win against 21-ranked Middle Tennessee was huge not only for the program but for the players as well.

“I felt like we had a pretty good group of girls this season,” said senior guard Erin Wilson. “We got pretty far this season, there were a couple of games that we lost, but it wasn’t by much. We never had a game that we got blew out by a lot of points, so overall I felt like this was a pretty good season, and we accomplished a lot together.”

‘Scoring’ outside the playing eld

Wilson has spent most of her life playing basketball, starting at the age of four, and began playing competitively at age six. Coming to UTEP off an Achilles injury, the then-sophomore played a key role in UTEP’s rise, playing an average of 16.5 minutes per game.

Erin was particularly proud of the team’s historic win against Middle Tennessee, as she wanted to relive that moment from the season.

“I think the feeling and the energy that we got from the Middle Tennessee game when we won,” Wilson said. “That energy was in the moment, and I would definitely redo that again, with the same results of course.”

With the new coaching staff in for the 2023-24 season, Wilson acknowledges the new coaching and training staff and her own goals for the season.

“Next season, I want a ring. That’s the bottom line,” Wilson said. “I think with this new coaching staff that is coming in, they are very critical on their players, and I think that they’re going to bring some good energy, some great people, and I think overall that’s the goal, especially before I leave out of this place, I wanted one so bad, last year we were so close, and I think I just want it even more now, so that is the goal.”

Nicholas Maes may be reached at nemaes@miners. utep.edu

Everyone faces the difficulty of figuring out life post-graduation, athletes are no exception. Life after graduation is always portrayed as something bleak and worrisome, but that is not always the case.

Athletes mix the lifestyles of academics and fitness into one and sports becomes the center point of their collegiate career.

The season of graduation brings a transitioning period for many, an era of coming to terms on what to do with yourself and your future. For athletes, some continue to pursue their athletic dreams, while others accompany new aspirations.

UTEP student and football player Chase Bibler talks about the challenges transitioning from graduation to a career.

“I feel like the hardest thing is probably the mindset of everything,” Bibler said. “Most of the times you hear with all athletes ‘obviously the goal is to go pro’ or to be at the next level when most of the case, only a certain fraction of these people actually make it.”

But only so many can do so. According to Exact Sports, only 1.6 percent of football players in the NCAA go pro.

“Obviously, I wish to be in football as long as I can but in reality, not everyone is able to compete,” Bibler says. “So, for me my goal ac-

tually is to join federal law enforcement. I have a couple of people that I know who are in DA Homeland Security, a ton of high divisions and they have been helping me with internships and resources here in El Paso to help me get to that next goal in life.”

Strategic communications graduate assistant and former student athlete, Lilliana Valdespino talks about the challenges of changing to a career.

“Others want a whole different new path and I think it’s trying to not just snip away your athletic career but to take what you have learned being a student athlete and just transitioning that into the real world,” Valdespino said.

It is no doubt that the skills obtained during college can benefit a future career.

Another student athlete who agrees with taking what was learned and utilizing it is UTEP student and cheerleader Natalie Nuñez.

“Some skills I picked up would be taking on that leadership role,” Nuñez said. “I know I wasn’t really a leader on the cheer team but just being a cheerleader really makes you get out there and be the leader for yourself. I was able to (take) that leadership position and transitioning it to my job.”

Whether it is leadership, teamwork or individual growth they will take these experiences into their future careers.

Marco Hinojosa

UTEP Marching Miners.

TOP LEFT: The UTEP Dance team cheers at a pep rally celebrating the team’s champion status April 13 at Cenntenial Plaza.

TOP RIGHT: The UTEP Marching Miners played various pep tunes dedicated to the UTEP Dance Team.

BOTTOM: The UTEP Dance team placed first at the National Dance Alliance (NDA) D1-A Spirit Rally National Championship Friday, April 7, in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Photos by Jasmin Campoya/The Prospector

Andrea Ostos’ ‘fairway’ to international success

country, but I also want to stay around golf if I do not go professional.”

Editor’s note: This is the final part of a three-part series featuring student-athletes from the Mexican State of Chihuahua.

Between playing golf, attending classes at UTEP and occasionally running her own small home bakery, senior golfer Andrea Ostos has found her international experience to be fulfilling.

In Ostos’ hometown of Chihuahua, Mexico, golf is not considered a popular sport. As Ostos explained, only three women have found professional success in the sport, including junior Alison Gastelum who played with Ostos while in high school. Gastelum currently plays for the New Mexico State women’s golf team.

The road to UTEP has been a rowdy one for Ostos as she spent some time in the U.S. at a young age. Her father was offered a job in Michigan when she was in elementary school. While at Michigan, Ostos learned English, something that has paid off today.

“It was hard for me to learn English back then,” Ostos said. “I used to cry about it with my mom. We don’t have any American girls on the team, so I forced myself to also be an example or to be someone able to hear and speak a lot of English.”

Like most athletes, Ostos did not start off by playing golf. Starting with tennis, Ostos spent a lot of her time at the local country club in Chihuahua. Ostos finally began playing golf at the age of 10, but her introduction to the sport started much sooner, stemming from her time in Michigan.

“My dad was surrounded by a lot of coworkers that liked to play golf,” Ostos said. “One day, they took him out to play golf. He thought it was a good idea to take us, my older sister and me. I was seven at the time and he bought some $50 golf clubs from Walmart. I came back to Chihuahua the year after, and I didn’t get to play golf until I was about 10. I actually started playing tennis and then I remembered golf.” When Ostos came to UTEP, she

noticed there was a strain on the team’s chemistry. This is something that bothered her, pushing Ostos to help change the culture amongst the team and in the process, she became a leader.

“It was hard for me my freshman year,” Ostos said. “I saw that there was a lot of division on the team. I made myself a promise that I would be more inclusive and have a good environment at all times for everybody, because it’s not easy doing what we do. I do try to lead by example, not so much by words. I’m not giving motivational speeches all the time and stuff but just leading by example.”

Although Ostos is set to graduate this May, she intends to continue her education by completing a master’s in leadership studies.

This, along with her bachelor’s in marketing, allows Ostos to start a business after hopefully becoming a professional in the upstart golf association LIV.

“I went to a LIV tournament, which is the other professional golf league in the U.S., and I loved it,” Ostos said. “I would love to go pro, like it’s obviously one of my biggest dreams. I do have a lot of life plans for myself and goals that I’d love to accomplish. I do want to focus and maybe start some businesses here. I’m passionate about food, so I’d love to have many restaurants.”

Despite her commitment to staying in the U.S., Ostos has not forgotten about her home country.

“I would love to go back to Mexico at some point and live there again,” Ostos said. “It’s a beautiful

Reflecting on her choice to study in the U.S., Ostos provides advice for those athletes who may be considering the drastic and overwhelming change.

“Hug your parents and your family as much as you can before you come,” Ostos said. “You never really understand the value of being with your family until you leave them.

If it’s not your family, your friends, your boyfriend, your girlfriend, whatever it is like, just to love the people that you have at home. Be ready to create new memories, new friendships and to not be afraid of being who you are, because eventually, the right people will come to you.”

The spring season is over for the women’s golf team as they competed in the 2023 Conference USA Golf Tournament April 13 through April 15 in Palm Beach, Florida.

The team placed eighth overall out of nine teams. Ostos tied for nineteenth at-large and was the highest placed Miner with a plus 16 over par and an average score of just over 77 per round.

Ostos has one more year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic and plans to keep playing for the Miners.

Emmanuel Rivas Valenzuela Armendariz is the sports editor and may be reached at erivas7@miners.utep.edu: @ rivasemmanuel2 on Instagram

Andrea Ostos was born in Chihuahua, Mexico and now plays for UTEP Golf. Photo courtesy of GCU Athletics.

Bryan Alawneh

Diana Aragon

Daniela Barrio

Peyton Elizabeth Beck

Gloria Selene Burciaga

Maia Castillo

Adrian Chavez

Jangkwon Cho

Francisco Contreras

Victoria Inez Corella

Judith Curiel

Myrna Curiel

Evan Oscar de Anda

Cassandra Dominguez

Jennifer Dominguez

Susan Paola Enriquez

Jacqueline Beatrice Estrada-Triana

Stephanie Falcon

Natalie Marie Fernandez

Amanda Rae Flores

Angel Garcia

Adriana Garcilazo

Juan Antonio Guerrero

Jessica Ellen Hargett

Jacquelyn Nadine Juarez

Daniel Landeros

Daphine Liang

Ines Paulina Medel

Kassandra Nikole Moran

Cesar O. Moreno Aguilar

Samuel Edward Nava

Marietta Margaret Nicholas

April A. Noonan

Karen Andrea Olivas

Isabel Omoegbele

Ehimen Omoegbele

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY

Jose Raul Orona

Elvia Oropeza

Valerie Michelle Perez

Esteban A. Quezada

Michael Quintela

Kayla Quintero

Samantha Reveles

Aldo Isac Rojas

Jorge Javier Romero

Celeste M. Rosales

Beshoy Michael Saied

Stephanie Marie Soto

Paulina Soto-Ruiz

Martin Valdez

Ashley R. Whitworth

Hndrien Yamin